encomium

American  

[en-koh-mee-uhm] / ɛnˈkoʊ mi əm /

noun

encomiums, plural encomia plural

1. a formal expression of high praise; eulogy.

   An encomium by the president greeted the returning hero.

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encomium British  

/ ɛnˈkəʊmɪəm /

noun

1. a formal expression of praise; eulogy; panegyric

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• encomia
  plural
• encomiums
  plural

Etymology

Origin of encomium

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin, from Greek enkṓmion, equivalent to en- en- ² + kôm(os) “a revel” + -ion noun suffix

Explanation

An encomium is a fancy word for a formal speech or piece of writing that warmly praises someone or something. Encomium comes from the Greek word enkomion which, in a nutshell, is to honor someone or something at a party in a poetic speech. It used to refer to the song for the winner of the Olympic Games, sung at a victory celebration. You might hear an encomium at a retirement party, after you publish a fabulous book, or even at a funeral (a eulogy, or speech at a funeral about the person who died, is a kind of encomium). It's pronounced with a long O, en-CO-mium.

Example Sentences

“It was my first attempt at an autobiographical thing,” Diamond told Rolling Stone of this encomium to an imaginary childhood friend.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

The director is Reginald Hudlin, but, in tone and temperament, this lovingly assembled encomium is peak Oprah Winfrey.

From New York Times • Sep. 22, 2022

I’m as guilty as anyone of having blithely used that exaggerated encomium in composing year-end lists in the past.

From Washington Post • Dec. 6, 2021

Granted, those who claim the authority to instruct the rest of us on what deserves that encomium missed its true significance.

From Salon • Feb. 29, 2020

"She's all of that," quoth the fortunate engineer, vaguely aware of a lack of flavour in Miss Tripp's encomium, "and—er—more."

From And So They Were Married by Kingsley, Florence Morse