accolade

noun

ac·​co·​lade ˈa-kə-ˌlād How to pronounce accolade (audio)
-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

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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.

Examples of accolade in a Sentence

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 Throughout the awards season, Nolan has received many accolades, including best director at the BAFTAs, Critics Choice, DGA, and Golden Globes. Beatrice Verhoeven, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024 His former costar and real life daughter, Sarah Levy, and Catherine O'Hara joined him on Friday for the accolade and honored his onscreen legacy with heartfelt speeches. Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 9 Mar. 2024 The screenwriter won an Oscar and a Razzie in the same year, grabbing the accolade in 1998 for Best Adapted Screenplay on L.A. Confidential. Ew Staff, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2024 The period after your presentation should be spent accepting your accolades and networking with fellow professionals in your field. Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Here’s yet another Bugatti, this one built back in 2010 for the sole purpose of securing the accolade of fastest production car ever built. Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2024 The team also owes its accolades in part to Global Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey, who led the design efforts for all of Red Bull’s championship-winning cars. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2024 Both catchers are more eager to talk about their new Venezuelan teammates and their home country’s triumph in the Caribbean World Series than their individual accolades or accomplishments. Candace Oehler, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 Streisand boasts a remarkable accolade collection, having secured two Academy Awards, ten Grammys, five Emmy Awards, three Peabody Awards, and a Tony Award. Meredith Woerner, Variety, 25 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'accolade.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of accolade was in 1591

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Cite this Entry

“Accolade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accolade. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

accolade

noun
ac·​co·​lade ˈak-ə-ˌlād How to pronounce accolade (audio)
1
: a formal salute (as a tap on the shoulder with the blade of a sword) that marks the conferring of knighthood
2
: a mark of recognition of merit : praise

More from Merriam-Webster on accolade

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