medal

1 of 2

noun

med·​al ˈme-dᵊl 

1

: a small usually metal object bearing a religious emblem or picture

2

: a piece of metal often resembling a coin and having a stamped design that is issued to commemorate a person or event or awarded for excellence or achievement

medal

2 of 2

verb

medaled also medalled; medaling also medalling

ˈmed-liŋ,

ˈme-dᵊl-iŋ 

intransitive verb

: to win a medal

medaled in figure skating

Synonyms

Noun

• medallion
• order

Examples of medal in a Sentence

Noun

He was awarded a medal for his heroism.

the display case held an impressive array of military medals from World War II

Verb

She medaled in figure skating in the Olympics.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

While in service, he was awarded a medal during Operation Desert Storm, and was honorably discharged. —The Hill, 12 Dec. 2024

However, only 10 of the nation’s medals have come since 1968, following a golden age for US lifters like Berger and Tommy Kono. —Jamie Barton, CNN, 12 Dec. 2024

Verb

López is now the first Olympian to ever win gold in the same event at five consecutive Games, not to mention the first wrestler to win five golds and the oldest wrestler to medal, at 41. —Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2024

American Galen Rupp was the last to medal for the U.S. in the men's marathon, winning bronze at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. —NBC News, 10 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French medaille, from Old Italian medaglia coin worth half a denarius, medal, from Vulgar Latin *medalis half, alteration of Late Latin medialis middle, from Latin medius — more at mid

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1979, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing medal

• bronze medal
• deserve a medal
• gold medal
• medal play
• scapular medal
• service medal
• silver medal
• soldier's medal

Kids Definition

medal

noun

med·​al

ˈmed-ᵊl

: a piece of metal often in the form of a coin with design and words in honor of a special event, a person, or an achievement