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

Including relays, Maier won seven state medals, three coming Saturday. —Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025

Those who complete the challenge will receive a special medal in December in addition to the three individual race medals. —Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025

Verb

With their vaulting performances, Sullivan and Phillip became just the second pair of Oswego gymnasts to medal on the same event in the same year. —Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025

Tanith Belbin and partner Ben Agosto end the U.S. medals drought in Olympic ice dance competition with a silver. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for medal

• bedell
• heddle
• meddle
• pedal
• peddle
• wedel
• bipedal
• intermeddle

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