medal of honor: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Official, Military
Quick answer
What does “medal of honor” mean?
A prestigious military decoration awarded by the United States government for acts of extraordinary valor in combat.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A prestigious military decoration awarded by the United States government for acts of extraordinary valor in combat.
A term sometimes used metaphorically to refer to any high honor or recognition for exceptional bravery or service, though this usage is informal and derives from the specific military award.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The 'Medal of Honor' is a specifically American military award. The UK equivalent is the 'Victoria Cross'. The term is rarely used in a British context except when discussing US military matters.
Connotations
In the US, it carries the highest connotations of military heroism and national gratitude. In the UK, it is understood as a foreign, high-prestige award.
Frequency
The term is common in American English within military, historical, and journalistic contexts. It is very rare in British English outside of discussions of US affairs.
Grammar
How to Use “medal of honor” in a Sentence
[Subject] was awarded the Medal of Honor for [action].The President presented the Medal of Honor to [recipient].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “medal of honor” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The soldier was posthumously honoured with the Victoria Cross, the British equivalent.
American English
- He was medal of honored in a White House ceremony. (Note: This is grammatically incorrect and demonstrates the term is not used as a verb.)
adverb
British English
- [Not applicable]
American English
- [Not applicable]
adjective
British English
- He is a Victoria Cross holder.
- The VC citation describes incredible bravery.
American English
- She is a Medal of Honor recipient.
- The MOH ceremony was deeply moving.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, political science, and military studies contexts.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation unless discussing military history or news.
Technical
Used in official military, governmental, and ceremonial documentation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “medal of honor”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “medal of honor”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “medal of honor”
- Using lowercase ('medal of honor') when referring to the specific US award (should be capitalized).
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'He has three medals of honor').
- Confusing it with other US military medals like the Silver Star or Purple Heart.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'Medal of Honor' is the official name, but it is sometimes colloquially called the 'Congressional Medal of Honor' because it is awarded by the President in the name of Congress.
Yes, but it is extremely rare. The majority of Medals of Honor are awarded posthumously.
The British equivalent is the Victoria Cross (VC).
Yes, when referring to the specific United States military decoration, it is a proper noun and should be capitalized: 'Medal of Honor'. In metaphorical, informal use, it is sometimes lowercased.
A prestigious military decoration awarded by the United States government for acts of extraordinary valor in combat.
Medal of honor is usually formal, official, military in register.
Medal of honor: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmedl əv ˈɒnə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmedl əv ˈɑːnər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not applicable for this proper noun term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'MEDAL' for bravery in battle, 'HONOR' for the highest respect. Together, they form the top US award for valor.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE PINNACLE OF HONOR IS A PHYSICAL MEDAL.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'Medal of Honor' most accurately used?