Prominent means easily seen or noticed, or important and well-known in a particular area.
From Latin *prominēre* 'to jut out, project', from *pro-* 'forward' and *minēre* 'to stand out, threaten'. It first described things that literally stuck out.
A prominent person or feature is something that 'sticks out' from the crowd. That’s why a prominent nose and a prominent scientist use the same word—they both stand forward where everyone can see.
Descriptions of "prominent" figures have historically skewed toward men in many domains because women and gender minorities were excluded from institutions, records, and canons. As a result, prominence often reflects historical access and visibility rather than actual contribution alone.
When calling someone "prominent," be aware of structural reasons others were not recognized, and avoid implying that lack of prominence equals lack of merit.
["well-known","widely recognized","high-profile"]
In historical or disciplinary overviews, explicitly mention that many women’s work was not recorded or credited, and highlight known women whose prominence was limited by discrimination rather than achievement.
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