honorable mention

noun

: a distinction conferred (as in a contest or exhibition) on works or persons of exceptional merit but not deserving of top honors

Examples of honorable mention in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Here are the top 10 games of Week 2, starting with a few honorable mentions and counting down. — Justin Williams, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Five finalists and five honorable mentions will be chosen in divisions for junior high/middle school students and for high schoolers. — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026

An honorable mention goes out to the Cleveland Browns, who had a live mascot representing the Dawg Pound up until 2024. — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026

The 6-2, 240-pound Cathedral Catholic graduate began his career at Army before transferring home and earning honorable mention All-Mountain West recognition the past two years. — Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for honorable mention

• apprehension
• comprehension
• condescension
• hypertension
• hypotension
• reinvention
• reprehension
• resuspension
• attention
• contention
• convention
• declension