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Medal of Honor

American

noun

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.

Medal of Honor British

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medal of Honor Cultural

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.

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.

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

After he was freed, Dick O’Kane became one of the seven World War II submariners awarded the Medal of Honor.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025

He received numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

From Salon • Aug. 9, 2025

Franklin D. Roosevelt was hanging the Congressional Medal of Honor around my neck, saying, “Without regard for her personal safety, she entered the very stronghold of the foe.”

From "Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023