'prominence' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'prominentia' (from the present participle 'prominēns'), where the prefix 'pro-' meant 'forward' and the root 'minēre' meant 'to project or jut out'.

'prominentia' passed into Middle French and then into Middle English as 'prominence' (or via Old French forms), eventually becoming the modern English word 'prominence'.

Initially it meant 'a projecting part' or 'that which juts out', but over time the word's sense broadened to include 'importance' or 'conspicuousness' in addition to the physical sense.