Accolade — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈa-kə-ˌlād/ ac·co·lade

Meaning & Definition of Accolade

Accolade (noun)

  1. a mark of acknowledgment, award
  2. an expression of praise
  3. a ceremonial embrace

Accolade (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a formal expression of praise

    "for their exceptional bravery the firefighters received accolades from both local and national officials"

    similar: citation, commendation, dithyramb, encomium, eulogium, eulogy, homage, hymn, paean, panegyric, salutation, tribute
    related: award, decoration, dedication, honor, prize, acclaim, acclamation, laudation, applause, plaudit(s), bravo, hallelujah, kudo, approval, cachet, compliment, recommendation
    near: censure, condemnation, denunciation, indictment, rebuke, reprimand, reproof, admonition, correction, harangue, lecture, sermon

  2. public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement

    "winning the Nobel Prize for Physics is generally regarded as the highest accolade for a physicist"

    similar: acclaim, applause, bay(s), credit, distinction, glory, homage, honor, kudos, laud, laurels, props (slang), réclame, sun
    related: celebrity, fame, renown, repute, compliment, encomium, eulogy, panegyric, toast, tribute, acclamation, ovation, plaudit, praise, rave, rhapsody, citation, commendation, kudo, note, recommendation, elevation, enshrinement, enthronement, exaltation, glorification

  3. something given in recognition of achievement

    "a screen performance that won virtually every accolade that the film world has to offer"

    similar: award, blue ribbon, decoration, distinction, honor, kudo, plume, premium, prize
    related: badge, crown, cup, laurel, medal, order, plaque, plate, ribbon, trophy, applause, bravo, encomium, eulogy, hallelujah, homage, paean, panegyric, plaudit, tribute, citation, commendation, compliment, honorable mention

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Accolade

The most common words with a similar meaning to Accolade:

Slang: props
citation, commendation, dithyramb, encomium, eulogium, eulogy, homage, hymn, paean, panegyric, salutation, tribute, acclaim, applause, bay(s), credit, distinction, glory, honor, kudos, laud, laurels, réclame, sun, award, blue ribbon, decoration, kudo, plume, premium, prize

Related Words for Accolade

dedication, acclamation, laudation, plaudit(s), bravo, hallelujah, approval, cachet, compliment, recommendation, celebrity, fame, renown, repute, toast, ovation, plaudit, praise, rave, rhapsody, note, elevation, enshrinement, enthronement, exaltation, glorification, badge, crown, cup, laurel

Near Antonyms of Accolade

censure, condemnation, denunciation, indictment, rebuke, reprimand, reproof, admonition, correction, harangue, lecture, sermon

Origin & Etymology of Accolade

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 collar:1

First known use: 1591

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Accolade

Frequently Asked Questions about Accolade

What does "Accolade" mean?

"Accolade" means a mark of acknowledgment, award. As a noun, it is defined as: a mark of acknowledgment, award. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Accolade"?

Other words for "Accolade" include citation, commendation, dithyramb, encomium, eulogium, eulogy, homage and hymn. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Accolade" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Accolade"?

There are 69 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Accolade". Common alternatives include citation, commendation, dithyramb, encomium, eulogium, eulogy, homage, hymn, paean and panegyric.

How do you use "Accolade" in a sentence?

Examples of "Accolade" in a sentence: "for their exceptional bravery the firefighters received accolades from both local and national officials"; "winning the Nobel Prize for Physics is generally regarded as the highest accolade for a physicist"; "a screen performance that won virtually every accolade that the film world has to offer".

Is "Accolade" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Accolade" is a noun.

Is "Accolade" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Accolade" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Accolade"?

"Accolade" is pronounced /ˈa-kə-ˌlād/ and divided into syllables as ac·co·lade.

What is the origin of the word "Accolade"?

"Accolade" comes from 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 collar:1. First known use: 1591.