medal
Americannoun
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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.
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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
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(tr) to honour with a medal
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informal (intr) (in sport) to win a medal
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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medalsimple
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medalssimple
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have medaledperfect
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have medalledperfect
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has medaledperfect
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has medalledperfect
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am medalingprogressive
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am medallingprogressive
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are medalingprogressive
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are medallingprogressive
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is medalingprogressive
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is medallingprogressive
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have been medalingperfect progressive
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have been medallingperfect progressive
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has been medalingperfect progressive
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has been medallingperfect progressive
Past
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medaledsimple
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medalledsimple
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had medaledperfect
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had medalledperfect
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was medalingprogressive
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was medallingprogressive
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were medalingprogressive
-
were medallingprogressive
-
had been medalingperfect progressive
-
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
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for July 31–August 6, 2021
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List 1
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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.
At 17, she won a gold medal in speed climbing last week at the USU19 National Championship in Salt Lake City.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 8, 2026
Football legend George Best's European Cup winner's medal has sold for more than £300,000 at auction.
From BBC • Jun. 28, 2026
Near both the Peace Prize medal and the handprint are kid-friendly facsimiles that visitors can touch.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 17, 2026
The 2024 Olympic silver medalist could be in line to end a three-decade gold medal drought in 2028.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 13, 2026
If the all-around win was considered to be the jewel in the crown, the team medal was the crown itself—the main reason we were there.
From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles
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.
