medal
Americannoun
-
a flat piece of metal, often a disk but sometimes a cross, star, or other form, usually bearing an inscription or design, issued to commemorate a person, action, or event, or given as a reward for bravery, merit, or the like.
a gold medal for the best swimmer.
-
a similar object bearing a religious image, as of a saint.
a Saint Christopher's medal.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
verb
-
(tr) to honour with a medal
-
informal (intr) (in sport) to win a medal
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have medalledperfect
-
has medalledperfect 3rd person singular
-
have medaledperfect
-
has medaledperfect 3rd person singular
-
have been medalingperfect progressive
-
have been medallingperfect progressive
-
has been medalingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
is medallingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
is medalingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
am medallingprogressive 1st person singular
-
medallingparticiple
-
are medalingprogressive
-
are medallingprogressive
-
medalssingular 3rd person
-
medalingparticiple
-
has been medallingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
am medalingprogressive 1st person singular
Past
-
had medalledperfect
-
had medaledperfect
-
had been medalingperfect progressive
-
was medallingprogressive singular
-
were medalingprogressive plural
-
were medallingprogressive plural
-
was medalingprogressive singular
-
medaledsimple
-
medalledparticiple
-
medalledsimple
-
medaledparticiple
-
had been medallingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of medal
1580–90; earlier medaille < Middle French < Italian medaglia copper coin worth a halfpenny < Vulgar Latin *medalia, variant (by dissimilation) of Late Latin mediālia, noun use of neuter plural (taken as feminine singular) of mediālis medial
Explanation
A medal is an award for some contest or achievement. You might win a medal for coming in third place at the cupcake baking championship. A medal is often a flat piece of metal that's stamped with an inscription or design and is given in honor of winning a race, serving in battle, or another remarkable accomplishment. Scholars, athletes, and soldiers all might win medals. Originally, a medal was a "trinket," and it wasn't until the 18th century that it began to mean "reward for merit."
Vocabulary lists containing medal
Commonly Confused Words, List 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for July 31–August 6, 2021
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
List 1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The last endorsement was especially weighty coming from a winner of the Fields Medal, one of the highest honors for human mathematicians.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026
Alice Keys and Grandmaster Flash are among the first batch of music legends set to be honored with the Black American Music Assn.’s new ICE Medal of Honor.
From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026
He interrupts Medal of Honor ceremonies to talk about it.
From Slate • Apr. 28, 2026
St. Olaf awarded him a Founders Medal last year and said he and his family had donated more than $66.7 million to the college, beginning with a gift of $100 three years after his graduation.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026
Although Owen was allowed to keep the Royal Medal, the episode left a permanent tarnish on his reputation, even among his few remaining supporters.
From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
