homage

American  

[hom-ij, om-, oh-mahzh] / ˈhɒm ɪdʒ, ˈɒm-, oʊˈmɑʒ /

noun

1. respect or reverence paid or rendered.

   In his speech he paid homage to Washington and Jefferson.

   Synonyms:

   tribute, honor, obeisance, deference

   Antonyms:

   irreverence

2. the formal public acknowledgment by which a feudal tenant or vassal declared himself to be the man or vassal of his lord, owing him fealty and service.

3. the relation thus established of a vassal to his lord.

   Synonyms:

   devotion, loyalty, fidelity

   Antonyms:

   disloyalty

4. something done or given in acknowledgment or consideration of the worth of another.

   a Festschrift presented as an homage to a great teacher.

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homage British  

/ ˈhɒmɪdʒ /

noun

1. a public show of respect or honour towards someone or something (esp in the phrases pay or do homage to )

2. 1. the act of respect and allegiance made by a vassal to his lord See also fealty

   2. something done in acknowledgment of vassalage

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verb

1. archaic to render homage to

homage Cultural  

1. Under feudalism, the personal submission of a vassal to a lord, by which the vassal pledged to serve the lord and the lord to protect the vassal.

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Etymology

Origin of homage

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (h)omage, from Old French, equivalent to (h)ome “man” (from Latin hominem, accusative of homō; see Homo) + -age -age

Explanation

Homage means great respect and honor, or something done to honor a person or thing. We pay homage to our ancestors and say prayers in homage to their memory. In Middle English, homage specifically referred to respect for and loyalty to a feudal lord. The word was borrowed from Old French, probably from omne, homme "man," from Latin homō. The noun suffix –age is used to mean "an action, process, result, or state."

Example Sentences

That is because, even as he ignored precedent’s binding force, he paid homage to its jurisprudence.

From Slate • Jul. 1, 2026

He has started his own podcast - called 'What You Talking About Willis?' in homage to 1980s American sitcom Diff'rent Strokes - and still tries to watch his beloved Liverpool as often as possible.

From BBC • Jul. 1, 2026

The cast reunited one last time for a homage to the opening of the first “Jackass” movie in which the dudes barreled down a hill in an oversize, runaway shopping cart.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 29, 2026

This is Early’s life: an affectionate homage to the women he’s so inspired by, who have influenced his comedy and interests, who shaped him into the artist he is today.

From Salon • Jun. 22, 2026

But he still needed a lady, a lady to dream about, a lady to receive homage from his defeated enemies.

From "Adventures of Don Quixote" by Argentina Palacios

Related Words

• allegiance
• deference
• loyalty
• reverence
• tribute