ped·es·tal
ˈpe-də-stᵊl 
1
a
: the support or foot of a late classic or neoclassical column see column illustration
b
: the base of an upright structure
the pedestal of a statue
2
: base, foundation
Tourism is the island's economic pedestal.
3
: a position of esteem
… be careful not to put celebrities on too high a pedestal.—
Phil Plait
Phil Plait
pedestaled or pedestalled; pedestaling or pedestalling
: to place on or furnish with a pedestal
Examples of pedestal in a Sentence
Noun
the pedestal of a vase
Recent Examples on the Web
Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
The fact that he is seated on a pedestal that is nearly one-third the total height, with only his right foot reaching toward the ground, raises a question about whether the statue can be considered fully freestanding.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
Irene Hsu, New Republic, 16 Feb. 2018
See All Example Sentences for pedestal
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Noun
His 8-foot statue rises from a 10-foot pedestal — harder to reach than the practically ground-level Otis trio.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
The fact that he is seated on a pedestal that is nearly one-third the total height, with only his right foot reaching toward the ground, raises a question about whether the statue can be considered fully freestanding.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
Worse, pedestaling successful Asian immigrant families also often silences and subjugates undocumented Asian immigrants, who represent one out of every seven Asian immigrants living in the United States.
—Irene Hsu, New Republic, 16 Feb. 2018
See All Example Sentences for pedestal
Cite this Entry
“Pedestal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pedestal. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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