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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Banijay Entertainment boss Marco Bassetti, who will be honored with the Variety Vanguard Award at the Mipcom confab, lets his track record do the talking, and would rather discuss profit margins and business than accolades. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 6 Oct. 2025 Her junior year had been her most impressive yet, with Snelling receiving accolades for both her academics and her athletics. Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025 The short list and nominators remain a secret, and documents revealing the details of the selection process for the accolades are sealed from public view for 50 years. Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025 And for all the deserved accolades to European captain Luke Donald, such a man exists on that side. Hugh Kellenberger, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for accolade

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 9 Oct. 2025.

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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