homage
Americannoun
-
respect or reverence paid or rendered.
In his speech he paid homage to Washington and Jefferson.
- Antonyms:
- irreverence
-
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.
-
the relation thus established of a vassal to his lord.
- Antonyms:
- disloyalty
-
something done or given in acknowledgment or consideration of the worth of another.
a Festschrift presented as an homage to a great teacher.
noun
-
a public show of respect or honour towards someone or something (esp in the phrases pay or do homage to )
-
-
the act of respect and allegiance made by a vassal to his lord See also fealty
-
something done in acknowledgment of vassalage
-
verb
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."
Vocabulary lists containing homage
A Christmas Carol
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!
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
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!
GRE Verbal Reasoning, 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.
“Foreign Tongues” pointedly concludes with Chuck Berry’s “Beautiful Delilah” as an homage of sorts to the forefathers who made the band’s existence possible in the first place.
From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2026
Fendi celebrates the first haute couture show by newly seated designer Maria Grazia Chiuri in its home city of Rome on Thursday, along with a homage to longtime couturier Karl Lagerfeld.
From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026
Mr. Glass’s new symphony pays obvious, if unspoken, homage to Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait,” which concluded the program’s second half.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
The Harlesden Walk of Music's commemorative discs pay homage to musicians, producers and record shops that made the area the reggae capital of the UK, from the arrival of the Windrush generation onwards.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
It was not only an homage to one of my favorite songs by the Doors—but it was a statement that deeply resonated with me.
From "A Very Large Expanse of Sea" by Tahereh Mafi
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.
