medal

[ med-l ]

noun

1. 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.

2. a similar object bearing a religious image, as of a saint:

   a Saint Christopher's medal.

verb (used with object)

, med·aled, med·al·ing or (especially British) med·alled, med·al·ling.

1. to decorate or honor with a medal.

verb (used without object)

, med·aled, med·al·ing or (especially British) med·alled, med·al·ling.

1. to receive a medal, especially in a sporting event:

   He medaled in three of four races.

medal

/ mɪˈdælɪk; ˈmɛdəl /

noun

1. a small flat piece of metal bearing an inscription or image, given as an award or commemoration of some outstanding action, event, etc

verb

1. tr to honour with a medal
2. informal.
   intr (in sport) to win a medal

Derived Forms

• medallic, adjective

Other Words From

• un·medaled adjective
• un·medalled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of medal¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of medal¹

C16: from French médaille, probably from Italian medaglia, ultimately from Latin metallum metal

Example Sentences

Deignan won several of the sport's biggest races, an Olympic silver medal at the London 2012 Games and was part of a group of top riders who fought for better salaries and conditions for female riders.

From BBC

The box of the silver medal from London 2012's road race is now heavily frayed "thanks to all the primary schools I've taken it to".

From BBC

While Deignan was launched into the British sporting conscience by winning the first medal of a memorable home Games, her victory at the 2015 UCI Road World Championships in Richmond, USA, cemented her presence on the global stage, and made her only the fourth Briton to win the title after legends Beryl Burton, Mandy Jones and Nicole Cooke.

From BBC

The Princeton and Harvard graduate served as an infantry platoon leader in Guantanamo Bay and Iraq, where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

From BBC

Sierra Canyon, a longtime nemesis to Etiwanda, boasts perhaps the No. 1 junior in the nation in Jerzy Robinson, who won another gold medal during the summer competing for the under-17 USA national team and says she has improved in “everything.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• gold
• reward