Medal of Freedom

noun phrase

: a U.S. decoration awarded to civilians for meritorious achievement in any of various fields

Examples of Medal of Freedom in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump’s tribute comes after Parton declined the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the most prestigious civil honors in the US. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 26 Aug. 2026

Namely, the singer turned down the Presidential Medal of Freedom – widely considered the government's highest civilian honor – multiple times. — Melina Khan, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Decades later, he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018, when he was recognized both for his baseball career and his charity work with the Babe Ruth Foundation. — Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 16 Aug. 2026

He has also been given an honorary Academy Award and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. — Michael Schneider, Variety, 29 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above