Cool MateA trophy from this millennium vs Award vs Medal vs Prize vs Recognition
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
A trophy from this millennium
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Award
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Medal
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Prize
Top 2,000 (common)A2noun
Recognition
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Most common: Award
| A trophy from this millennium | Award | Medal | Prize | Recognition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ə ˈtrəʊfi frəm ðɪs mɪˈlɛnnɪəm//🇺🇸 //ə ˈtroʊfi frəm ðɪs mɪˈlɛniəm// | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈwɔːd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈwɔːrd/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈmedl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈmedl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/praɪz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/praɪz/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌrekəɡˈnɪʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌrekəɡˈnɪʃn/"]/ |
| Meaning | an award from the 2000s onwards | A prize or honor given to someone for their achievements. | A small metal object that you get for winning a race or competition. | An award or something given for winning. | When you know someone or something again after seeing or hearing it. |
| Example | He proudly displayed a trophy from this millennium. | She received an award for her outstanding performance in the competition. | She proudly wore the gold medal she won at the championship. | She won a prize for her excellent performance in the competition. | She received recognition for her outstanding work on the project. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 | B2 | A2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun | noun | noun | |
| Collocations | win a trophy from this millennium, display a trophy from this millennium, receive a trophy from this millennium | annual, national, coveted, announce, bestow, give somebody, go to somebody, awards banquet, awards ceremony, awards dinner, award for, award from, compensatory, discretionary, pay, get, receive, grant, compensatory, discretionary, pay, get, receive, grant | bronze, gold, silver, be awarded, collect, earn, winner, hope, hopes, medal for, a medal of honour/honor | big, great, prestigious, award (somebody), give (somebody), offer, go to somebody/something, be worth something, total something, winner, money, competition, prize for, prize in, big, great, prestigious, award (somebody), give (somebody), offer, go to somebody/something, be worth something, total something, winner, money, competition, prize for, prize in | immediate, instant, early, flicker, sign, show, avoid, allow, dawn, software, system, technology, beyond (all) recognition, out of (all) recognition, without recognition, recognition in somebody’s eyes, full, special, appropriate, achieve, attain, earn somebody, come, in recognition of, without recognition, recognition as, a lack of recognition, recognition of the importance of something, recognition of the need for something, full, special, appropriate, achieve, attain, earn somebody, come, in recognition of, without recognition, recognition as, a lack of recognition, recognition of the importance of something, recognition of the need for something |
| Antonyms | a trophy from the last millennium, an ancient trophy, a prehistoric trophy | penalty, punishment | penalty, punishment | forfeit, penalty | disregard, neglect, ignorance |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'millennium' with 'century', Using 'millennium' to refer only to the year 2000, Omitting context when mentioning the trophy | Confusing 'award' with 'reward' - an award is usually formal and public, while a reward can be personal and informal., Using 'awards' without specifying what kind, confusing listeners., Saying 'give award' instead of 'give an award' or 'award' directly. | Confused with 'metal', thinking they mean the same., Using 'medal' as a verb incorrectly., Incorrectly pluralizing as 'medalses'. | Confusing 'prize' with 'price' (the cost of something)., Using 'prizes' as a verb instead of a noun., Forgetting to specify what kind of prize (e.g., cash, trophy). | 'Recognition' is often confused with 'recognize', which is the verb form., Learners sometimes use 'recognition' improperly as if it were a verb., Inappropriate use in informal contexts, as it can sound too formal. |
| Usage notes | Use in contexts discussing achievements or awards received in the 21st century. Avoid in formal historical discussions. | Use 'award' in formal contexts when discussing honors in competitions, ceremonies, or achievements. Avoid using it in casual conversation unless referring to a specific event. | Used when talking about achievements in sports or contests. Generally appropriate in both casual and formal contexts, such as award ceremonies. Not typical in conversations about non-competitive accomplishments. | Use 'prize' in contexts related to competitions or achievements. It's appropriate in both casual and formal settings, such as schools, contests, or ceremonies. Avoid using it in non-competitive contexts where no reward is given. | Use 'recognition' when discussing acknowledgment of achievements or identities. It is appropriate in both academic and everyday contexts but may sound overly formal in casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: A trophy from this millennium vs Award vs Medal vs Prize vs Recognition
What's the difference between A trophy from this millennium, Award, Medal, Prize, and Recognition?
A trophy from this millennium: an award from the 2000s onwards Award: A prize or honor given to someone for their achievements. Medal: A small metal object that you get for winning a race or competition. Prize: An award or something given for winning. Recognition: When you know someone or something again after seeing or hearing it.
Which is more common: A trophy from this millennium, Award, Medal, Prize, and Recognition?
Award is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
A trophy from this millennium: He proudly displayed a trophy from this millennium. Award: She received an award for her outstanding performance in the competition. Medal: She proudly wore the gold medal she won at the championship. Prize: She won a prize for her excellent performance in the competition. Recognition: She received recognition for her outstanding work on the project.
Can I use A trophy from this millennium, Award, Medal, Prize, and Recognition interchangeably?
Not always. A trophy from this millennium, Award, Medal, Prize, and Recognition are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.