Cool MateAward vs Medal vs Prize vs Trophy
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Award
Medal
Prize
Trophy
| Award | Medal | Prize | Trophy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈwɔːd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈwɔːrd/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈmedl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈmedl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/praɪz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/praɪz/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtrəʊfi/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtrəʊfi/"]/ |
| Meaning | 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. | An award given for winning a competition. |
| Example | 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. | a trophy cabinet |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B2 | A2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun | noun | noun |
| Collocations | 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 | coveted, prestigious, major, lift, pick up, receive, cabinet, case, room, trophy for, coveted, prestigious, major, lift, pick up, receive, cabinet, case, room, trophy for |
| Antonyms | penalty, punishment | penalty, punishment | forfeit, penalty | loss, defeat |
| Common mistakes | 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). | Confusing 'trophy' with 'award' — a trophy is a specific type of award., Using 'trophy' as a verb — it's only a noun. |
| Usage notes | 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. | Used in sports and competitions. Appropriate in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid using in formal writing when referring to figurative achievements. |
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Frequently asked questions: Award vs Medal vs Prize vs Trophy
What's the difference between Award, Medal, Prize, and Trophy?
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. Trophy: An award given for winning a competition.
Which is more common: Award, Medal, Prize, and Trophy?
Award is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Award, Medal, Prize, and Trophy?
Trophy is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Award, Medal, Prize, and Trophy the same CEFR level?
Award: A2, Medal: B2, Prize: A2, Trophy: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Award, Medal, Prize, and Trophy?
Award: noun, Medal: noun, Prize: noun, Trophy: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
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. Trophy: a trophy cabinet
Can I use Award, Medal, Prize, and Trophy interchangeably?
Not always. Award, Medal, Prize, and Trophy 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.