gold medal

noun

1. a medal, traditionally of gold or gold color, awarded to a person or team finishing first in a competition, meet, or tournament; championship medal.

gold medal

noun

1. See bronze medal, silver medal
   a medal of gold, awarded to the winner of a competition or race Compare silver medal bronze medal

Other Words From

• gold medalist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of gold medal¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

His lone year at Cal exposed him to possibilities beyond basketball, he said, even if he couldn’t pursue them until his 12-year playing career — which included an all-star appearance and an Olympic gold medal — ended at age 31.

From Washington Post

There was just one opponent left to beat, and then the gold medal would be yours.

From FiveThirtyEight

There’s just one opponent left to beat, and then the gold medal will be yours.

From FiveThirtyEight

The next two came a month after she won the gold medal in Rio de Janeiro, where she led the first sweep by American women in any event and the first by any country in the history of the 100-meter hurdles.

From Washington Post

There is no suffering Olympics, no gold medal to be won, there is only suffering.

From Washington Post

The gold medal is the highest honor Congress bestows, and both houses must pass the authorizing legislation.

From The Daily Beast

It is also not unusual for a president to skip a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony.

From The Daily Beast

When Nancy Pelosi was speaker, the gold medal was authorized for golfer Arnold Palmer and conferred by Boehner.

From The Daily Beast

While it was a lifetime achievement for Goebel, it was another dour disappointment for Kwan: another Olympics and no gold medal.

From The Daily Beast

Quick images flash by: A young Cassius Clay showing off his gold medal (a man McConnell surely came to despise in the 1960s).

From The Daily Beast

This was shown at the Paris Salon, 1889, and missed the gold medal by two votes.

From Project Gutenberg

Adamov left the school with a gold medal and rose rapidly to a high place in the Ministry of Justice.

From Project Gutenberg

Martin Falleix obtained a brevet for invention and a gold medal at the Exposition of 1824.

From Project Gutenberg

For this work he received a gold medal and an annuity for life.

From Project Gutenberg

For this bravery the city of Paris had awarded him a gold medal and people had praised him until his head was half turned.

From Project Gutenberg