plaudit
Americannoun
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an enthusiastic expression of approval.
Her portrayal of Juliet won the plaudits of the critics.
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a demonstration or round of applause, as for some approved or admired performance.
noun
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an expression of enthusiastic approval or approbation
-
a round of applause
Etymology
Origin of plaudit
First recorded in 1615–25; earlier plaudite (pronounced as three syllables), from Latin, 2nd person plural imperative of plaudere “to applaud ”
Explanation
As its sound might suggest, plaudit is indeed related to "applaud" and "applause." In fact it's really just a fancy way of saying "praise" or "acclamation." Plaudit is used more in a literary sense than in spoken English, and particularly applies to the reception of a work of art, most notably a play. In fact, the word comes from the Latin plaudite, loudly uttered by Roman actors at the end of a play and meaning "applaud!" Kind of like cue cards for game show audiences now.
Vocabulary lists containing plaudit
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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The Boys in the Boat
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"Song of Myself" by Walt Whitman (excerpts)
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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.
The case for removing the Baton of Honor as an academic plaudit is overwhelming.
From Washington Times • Jul. 20, 2020
There’s no plaudit that would probably impress someone who won a Pulitzer Prize for criticism in his rookie year as a car critic in 2004, but man, the dude can jam.
From Fox News • Dec. 31, 2019
Here he's staging an early career retrospective, a plaudit ordinarily reserved for "more elderly, dead or successful artists", as he puts it.
From The Guardian • Jan. 15, 2011
The publicity was excellent: he was named “Innovator of the Year” by the Guardian, a British newspaper, and gained a plaudit from Hillary Clinton, America’s secretary of state.
From Economist • Sep. 16, 2010
As he passed through the towns and cities upon his route a general plaudit of welcome was his greeting, even noted political foes joining in the demonstrations.
From The Spy of the Rebellion Being a True History of the Spy System of the United States Army during the Late Rebellion, by Pinkerton, Allan
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.
