honorable mention: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal
Quick answer
What does “honorable mention” mean?
A commendation or citation given to a participant in a competition, exhibition, or other selection process who has performed notably well, but did not win a prize or top award.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A commendation or citation given to a participant in a competition, exhibition, or other selection process who has performed notably well, but did not win a prize or top award.
A recognition given for noteworthy effort or quality that falls just short of the highest accolades; can be used metaphorically in non-competitive contexts to acknowledge something as praiseworthy but not the best.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily a difference in spelling: 'honourable mention' in UK English, 'honorable mention' in US English. The concept and usage are identical.
Connotations
No difference in connotation. It carries the same formal, positive recognition in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common and standard in both UK and US contexts, especially in academic, artistic, and competitive spheres.
Grammar
How to Use “honorable mention” in a Sentence
[Person/Entry] receives an honorable mention (in [Competition/Field]) for [Achievement/Work].[Judges/Committee] gave [Person/Entry] an honorable mention.It is worth an honorable mention.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “honorable mention” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The panel saw fit to honourably mention three other contestants.
American English
- The judges decided to honorably mention two other finalists.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; might be used in corporate innovation challenges or award ceremonies. 'Our proposal didn't win the contract, but it received an honorable mention.'
Academic
Common in student competitions, science fairs, essay contests, and thesis awards. 'Her research paper earned an honorable mention at the conference.'
Everyday
Used when discussing competitions, sports, school events, or ranking things informally. 'My pie didn't win the bake-off, but it got an honorable mention!'
Technical
Specific to the rules of formal competitions, art exhibitions, film festivals, and design awards.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “honorable mention”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “honorable mention”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “honorable mention”
- Misspelling: 'honourable' (UK) vs 'honorable' (US).
- Using it as a verb, e.g., 'They honorable mentioned her' (incorrect).
- Pluralizing incorrectly: 'honorable mentions' is correct for multiple instances.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is considered a form of recognition or citation, but not typically a prize in the sense of a material award or title. It is a commendation.
Yes, metaphorically. For example: 'All the desserts were delicious, but the chocolate cake deserves an honorable mention.' It's used to acknowledge something noteworthy in a list or comparison.
A 'runner-up' is usually a specific second (or third, etc.) place finisher. An 'honorable mention' is a more general commendation for high quality, not necessarily denoting a specific ranking (e.g., 2nd place). There can be multiple honorable mentions.
List it under 'Awards & Honors' or a similar section. Format: 'Honorable Mention, [Name of Competition/Award], [Organization], [Date].' For example: 'Honorable Mention, National Science Fair, 2023.'
A commendation or citation given to a participant in a competition, exhibition, or other selection process who has performed notably well, but did not win a prize or top award.
Honorable mention is usually formal in register.
Honorable mention: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɒn(ə)rəb(ə)l ˈmɛnʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɑn(ə)rəb(ə)l ˈmɛnʃ(ə)n/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(just) an honorable mention (implies falling short of victory)”
- “not even an honorable mention (implies a complete lack of recognition)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: HONORable MENTION – you are MENTIONed with HONOR, even if you didn't get the top spot.
Conceptual Metaphor
RECOGNITION IS A PLACE ON THE PODIUM (but not the top step).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'honorable mention' typically imply about the recipient's performance?