1. having a quality that thrusts itself into attention;
"an outstanding fact of our time is that nations poisoned by anti semitism proved less fortunate in regard to their own freedom""a new theory is the most prominent feature of the book""salient traits""a spectacular rise in prices""a striking thing about Picadilly Circus is the statue of Eros in the center""a striking resemblance between parent and child"
2. conspicuous in position or importance;
"a big figure in the movement""big man on campus""he's very large in financial circles""a prominent citizen"