accolade
noun
Did you know?
What is the origin of accolade?
Give credit where credit is due: it's time to celebrate accolade for its centuries of laudatory service. Accolade joined English in the 16th century from the Middle French noun acolade, which in turn comes from the verb accoler, meaning "to embrace." When it was first borrowed from French, accolade referred to a ceremonial embrace that formally conferred knighthood. The term was later extended to other ceremonial acts conferring knighthood (such as the familiar touching of the shoulders with the flat part of a sword's blade), and then to other ceremonies marking the recognition of a special merit, distinction, or achievement. Today it refers more broadly to an award or expression of praise.
Synonyms
Examples of accolade in a Sentence
Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
Nominated for eight Emmys, among numerous other accolades, and spawning a few spin-offs, the show is expected to return for its fifth and final season in 2026.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2024
Despite her long, phenomenal run of success and prestigious accolades, Detroit gospel star Twinkie Clark has never been big on self-congratulations.
—Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 14 Nov. 2024
International accolades from the Michelin Guide and the World's 50 Best Restaurants prompted her to expand next door.
—Samantha Wood, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for accolade 
Dictionary Entries Near accolade
Cite this Entry
“Accolade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accolade. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
accolade
noun
Share