accolade
noun
ac·co·lade ˈa-kə-ˌlād 
-ˌläd
1
a
: a mark of acknowledgment : award
received the highest accolade of his profession
b
: an expression of praise
a movie that has drawn accolades from both fans and critics
2
a
: a ceremonial embrace
b
: a ceremony or salute conferring knighthood
3
music : a brace or a line used in music to join two or more staffs carrying simultaneous parts
Did you know?
What is the origin of accolade?
Accolade was borrowed into English in the 16th century from French. The French noun, in turn, derives from the verb accoler, which means "to embrace," and ultimately from the Latin term collum, meaning "neck." (Collum is also an ancestor of the English word collar.) When it was first borrowed from French, accolade referred to a ceremonial embrace that once marked the conferring of knighthood. The term was later extended to any ceremony conferring knighthood (such as the more familiar tapping on the shoulders with the flat part of a sword's blade), and eventually extended to honors or awards in general.
Synonyms
- citation
- commendation
- dithyramb
- encomium
- eulogium
- eulogy
- homage
- hymn
- paean
- panegyric
- salutation
- tribute
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
There is no higher accolade at this school than an honorary degree. for their exceptional bravery the firefighters received accolades from both local and national officials
Recent Examples on the Web This is a remarkable, thought-provoking film that earned Best Picture at the 92nd Academy Awards — the first non-English film to win the accolade. 
Leah Campano, Seventeen, 29 Aug. 2022 The latest accolade for Chandler is being named an Associated Press preseason All-American, announced Monday afternoon. Alexis Cubit, The Courier-Journal, 22 Aug. 2022 This latest accolade—whether the show wins the award or not—will likely fuel even more investment in shows for the streamer’s international interests. Adario Strange, Quartz, 15 July 2022 Two years and 95 hours of work later, the 17-year-old Ecija joined 81 other high school teens Saturday in a ceremony at Liberty Station to honor them with the Girl Scouts’ most prestigious accolade — the Gold Award. San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 June 2022 For girls, hooking up with a good male debater was widely considered an accolade: a way of sharing in his power. Tess Mcnulty, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 That’s quite an accolade given that General Motors’ GMC division is best known for its commercial vehicles and work trucks. Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping, 17 Aug. 2022 In 2002, Lennox received a Billboard Century Award, the trade title’s highest accolade. Lars Brandle, Billboard, 4 Feb. 2022 His main competition for the accolade, New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2022 See More
Leah Campano, Seventeen, 29 Aug. 2022 The latest accolade for Chandler is being named an Associated Press preseason All-American, announced Monday afternoon. Alexis Cubit, The Courier-Journal, 22 Aug. 2022 This latest accolade—whether the show wins the award or not—will likely fuel even more investment in shows for the streamer’s international interests. Adario Strange, Quartz, 15 July 2022 Two years and 95 hours of work later, the 17-year-old Ecija joined 81 other high school teens Saturday in a ceremony at Liberty Station to honor them with the Girl Scouts’ most prestigious accolade — the Gold Award. San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 June 2022 For girls, hooking up with a good male debater was widely considered an accolade: a way of sharing in his power. Tess Mcnulty, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 That’s quite an accolade given that General Motors’ GMC division is best known for its commercial vehicles and work trucks. Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping, 17 Aug. 2022 In 2002, Lennox received a Billboard Century Award, the trade title’s highest accolade. Lars Brandle, Billboard, 4 Feb. 2022 His main competition for the accolade, New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Middle French acolade, accolade "embrace," from acoler "to embrace" (going back to Old French, from a-, prefix forming transitive verbs—going back to Latin ad- ad-— + col "neck," going back to Latin collum) + -ade -ade — more at collar entry 1
First Known Use
1591, in the meaning defined at sense 2a
accolades
noun
1
as in commendations
a formal expression of praise for their exceptional bravery the firefighters received accolades from both local and national officials Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- commendations
- tributes
- awards
- citations
- encomiums
- homages
- acclaim
- eulogies
- hymns
- prizes
- salutations
- paeans
- panegyrics
- applauses
- encomia
- plaudits
- dithyrambs
- eulogiums
- dedications
- eulogia
- honors
- acclamations
- compliments
- kudos
- decorations
- recommendations
- laudations
- approvals
- hallelujahs
- bravoes
- bravos
- cachets
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- condemnations
- denunciations
- indictments
- reprimands
- censures
- lectures
- rebukes
- admonitions
- corrections
- sermons
- reproofs
- harangues
2
as in acclaim
public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement winning the Nobel Prize for Physics is generally regarded as the highest accolade for a physicist Synonyms & Similar Words
- acclaim
- honors
- applauses
- glories
- credits
- praises
- distinctions
- kudos
- laurels
- commendations
- ovations
- fames
- lauds
- homages
- props
- bays
- tributes
- plaudits
- compliments
- réclames
- suns
- encomiums
- celebrities
- raves
- acclamations
- eulogies
- recommendations
- kudos
- panegyrics
- toasts
- reputes
- rhapsodies
- renowns
- citations
- encomia
- exaltations
- glorifications
- elevations
- notes
- enshrinements
- enthronements
3
as in awards
something given in recognition of achievement a screen performance that won virtually every accolade that the film world has to offer Synonyms & Similar Words
- awards
- prizes
- honors
- trophies
- kudos
- medals
- distinctions
- premiums
- decorations
- plaudits
- plumes
- commendations
- blue ribbons
- applauses
- badges
- laurels
- compliments
- ribbons
- encomiums
- cups
- tributes
- plaques
- plates
- eulogies
- paeans
- panegyrics
- hallelujahs
- crowns
- citations
- bravos
- homages
- bravoes
- encomia
- honorable mentions
- orders
- denaries
- denariest
- denarii
- denarii dei
- denarius
- denarius dei
- denars
- denary
- denasalization
- denasalize
- denationalisatia
- denationalisation
- denationalisations
- denationalise
- denationalised
- denationalises
- denationalising
- denationalization
- denationalizations
- denationalize
- denationalized
- denationalizes
- denationalizing
- denaturalisation
- denaturalisations