medaillon: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, specialized
Quick answer
What does “medaillon” mean?
A piece of jewelry, usually a large circular or oval pendant, worn on a chain around the neck.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A piece of jewelry, usually a large circular or oval pendant, worn on a chain around the neck.
An ornamental disk, often bearing a portrait or design, made of metal, porcelain, or other material; also, a similarly shaped piece of food, especially meat; a large medal or a decorative panel in architecture or design.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use all senses. The spelling 'medallion' is standard in both; 'medaillon' is a rare, sometimes French-influenced variant.
Connotations
In both, the jewelry sense can connote antiquity, heirloom, or ornate design. The food sense is neutral culinary terminology.
Frequency
Low-to-medium frequency in both, appearing more in specific contexts like jewelry, menus, or architecture.
Grammar
How to Use “medaillon” in a Sentence
a medallion of [material: gold, ivory]a medallion with [feature: a portrait, an inscription]medallion [noun: neck, beef, winner]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “medaillon” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The medallion ceiling was a masterpiece of plasterwork.
- He ordered the medallion cut of lamb.
American English
- The medallion panel on the door was intricately carved.
- The chef prepared medallion steaks.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except perhaps in luxury goods marketing (e.g., 'Our new medallion collection').
Academic
Used in art history, archaeology (describing ancient artifacts), and culinary studies.
Everyday
Primarily for describing a type of necklace or a specific cut of meat.
Technical
In architecture: a decorative circular panel. In cooking: a specific, round, thick cut of meat or fish.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “medaillon”
- Misspelling as 'medalion' or 'medallian'.
- Using it to refer to any small pendant, losing the connotation of size and circular/oval shape.
- Confusing with 'medal' (award) in writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A medallion is a specific type of pendant, typically larger, circular or oval, and often more ornate or containing a portrait/design. A pendant is a more general term for any ornament hanging from a chain.
It refers to a round, thick, boneless piece of meat, such as beef, veal, or pork, or sometimes fish, often considered a premium cut for presentation.
It is not an everyday high-frequency word. It is more common in specific domains like jewelry, fine dining, art, and architecture.
The standard English spelling is 'medallion' (double 'l'). 'Medaillon' is a less common variant, sometimes used to evoke a French style.
A piece of jewelry, usually a large circular or oval pendant, worn on a chain around the neck.
Medaillon is usually formal, specialized in register.
Medaillon: in British English it is pronounced /mɪˈdæl.i.ən/, and in American English it is pronounced /məˈdæl.jən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MEDAL you win, then make it LION-sized and wear it as a pendant -> MEDALLION.
Conceptual Metaphor
CIRCULARITY IS COMPLETENESS/PERFECTION (a medallion as a perfect, self-contained form).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'medallion' LEAST likely to be used?