Medal of Honor

American  

noun

1. the highest U.S. military decoration, awarded by Congress to a member of the armed forces for gallantry and bravery in combat, at the risk of life and above and beyond the call of duty.

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Medal of Honor British  

noun

1. the highest US military decoration, awarded by Congress for conspicuous bravery in action: instituted in 1861 (Navy), 1862 (Army)

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Medal of Honor Cultural  

1. The highest military decoration in the United States armed services, often called the Congressional Medal of Honor. It recognizes valor and bravery in action “above and beyond the call of duty.” There have been some 3,400 recipients of the medal, which was established by an act of Congress in 1862.

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Example Sentences

He is the recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Arthur W. Page Center Integrity in Public Communications award, and multiple journalism awards.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

He interrupts Medal of Honor ceremonies to talk about it.

From Slate • Apr. 28, 2026

Trump then announced that Williams would receive the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026

Some of the content unpublished from the site was on veterans who had received the nation's highest military recognition, the Medal of Honor, according to military news site Task & Purpose.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2025

I follow the shelves around and let my fingers graze a big golden Medal of Honor.

From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston