Accolade vs. Award — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 2, 2024
Accolades are honors or praise for achievement, while awards are tangible items or titles given as recognition.
Difference Between Accolade and Award
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Accolades often refer to public praise or recognition for someone's achievements or qualities, highlighting the honor and esteem associated with the recognition. On the other hand, awards are typically physical tokens or titles conferred upon individuals or groups as a form of recognition for their achievements, excellence, or service.
Accolades are primarily about the honor itself, rather than any physical representation of that honor. Awards serve as a tangible symbol of appreciation and recognition, often associated with specific criteria or competitions.
Accolades are more about the recognition of merit or contribution, often expressed through words or ceremonial acts, emphasizing the esteem and respect the recipient garners from peers or society. Awards, in contrast, often come with specific benefits or privileges beyond the symbolic value.
Accolades thus carry a significant emotional value, enhancing the recipient's reputation and credibility. This tangible aspect of awards makes them highly sought after, as they offer both recognition and material benefits that can support further achievements or endeavors.
Comparison Chart
Nature
Honor or praise
Tangible item or title
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Purpose
To recognize achievements or qualities
To recognize achievements with a physical symbol
Representation
Primarily non-tangible, e.g., verbal praise
Tangible, e.g., trophies, medals, certificates
Impact
Boosts morale, reputation
Provides recognition and material benefits
Common in
Various fields without specific competition
Competitions, achievements in specific fields
Compare with Definitions
Accolade
An award or privilege granted as a special honor.
The director was given the accolade of a lifetime achievement award.
Award
A legal judgment or decision, especially in arbitration.
The arbitrator issued an award in favor of the plaintiff.
Accolade
A ceremonial embrace or greeting, historically a knighthood gesture.
The medieval knight was bestowed with the accolade, marking his rise in status.
Award
A grant or payment made as a prize from a fund or estate.
The foundation made an award to fund the research project.
Accolade
Praise or recognition for an achievement.
The scientist received an accolade from the academic community for her groundbreaking research.
Award
A financial grant given for academic or artistic pursuits.
The scholarship is an award for outstanding students.
Accolade
Expression of approval or admiration.
Her performance received accolades from the audience.
Award
Recognition for winning a competition or exceeding standards.
The innovation award was given to the team for their groundbreaking technology.
Accolade
Public commendation or honor.
His latest novel earned accolades from both critics and fans.
Award
A prize or token given in recognition of achievement.
She won the award for best actress in a drama series.
Accolade
The accolade (also known as dubbing or adoubement) (Latin: benedictio militis) was the central act in the rite of passage ceremonies conferring knighthood in the Middle Ages. From about 1852, the term accolade was used much more generally to mean "praise" or "award" or "honour".
Award
An award, sometimes called a distinction, is something given to a recipient as a token of recognition of excellence in a certain field. When the token is a medal, ribbon or other item designed for wearing, it is known as a decoration.
Accolade
An expression of approval; praise.
Award
To grant as merited or due
Awarded prizes to the winners.
Accolade
A special acknowledgment; an award.
Award
To grant an amount or other benefit legally due
Awarded damages to the plaintiff.
Accolade
A ceremonial embrace, as of greeting or salutation.
Award
Something awarded or granted, as for merit.
Accolade
Ceremonial bestowal of knighthood.
Award
An amount or other benefit granted as legally due.
Accolade
To praise or honor
"His works are invariably accoladed as definitive even as they sparkle and spark" (Malcolm S. Forbes).
Award
(legal) A judgment, sentence, or final decision. Specifically: The decision of arbitrators in a case submitted.
Accolade
An expression of approval; praise.
Award
(legal) The paper containing the decision of arbitrators; that which is warded.
Accolade
A special acknowledgment; an award.
This film is likely to pick up major accolades.
Award
A trophy or medal; something that denotes an accomplishment, especially in a competition. A prize or honor based on merit.
Accolade
An embrace of greeting or salutation.
Award
A negotiated minimum wage that is set for a particular trade or industry; an industrial award.
Accolade
(historical) A salutation marking the conferring of knighthood, consisting of an embrace or a kiss, and a slight blow on the shoulders with the flat of a sword.
Award
(intransitive) To determine; to make or grant an award.
Accolade
(music) A brace used to join two or more staves.
Award
(transitive) To give (an award).
Four or five of these medals are awarded every year.
Accolade
(US) Written Presidential certificate recognizing service by military personnel or civilians serving the US armed forces who died or were wounded in action between 1917 and 1918, or who died in service between 1941 and 1947, or died of wounds received in Korea between June 27, 1950 and July 27, 1954.
Award
(transitive) To give (a person) an award.
He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Accolade
(architecture) An ornament composed of two ogee curves meeting in the middle, each concave toward its outer extremity and convex toward the point at which it meets the other.
Award
To give by sentence or judicial determination; to assign or apportion, after careful regard to the nature of the case.
The arbitrators awarded damages to the complainant
Accolade
Synonym of curly bracket
Award
To give by sentence or judicial determination; to assign or apportion, after careful regard to the nature of the case; to adjudge; as, the arbitrators awarded damages to the complainant.
To reviewThe wrongful sentence, and award a new.
Accolade
(transitive) To embrace or kiss in salutation.
Award
To determine; to make an award.
Accolade
To confer a knighthood on.
Award
A judgment, sentence, or final decision. Specifically: The decision of arbitrators in a case submitted.
An award had been given against.
Accolade
(transitive) To confer praise or awards on.
An accoladed novel
Award
The paper containing the decision of arbitrators; that which is warded.
Accolade
A ceremony formerly used in conferring knighthood, consisting of an embrace, and a slight blow on the shoulders with the flat blade of a sword.
Award
A grant made by a law court;
He criticized the awarding of compensation by the court
Accolade
A brace used to join two or more staves.
Award
A tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction;
An award for bravery
Accolade
A tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction;
An award for bravery
Award
Something given for victory or superiority in a contest or competition or for winning a lottery;
The prize was a free trip to Europe
Award
Give, especially as a reward;
Bestow honors and prizes at graduation
Award
Give on the basis of merit;
Funds are granted to qualified researchers
Award
Bestow an honor upon
Common Curiosities
Can an accolade be considered an award?
While accolades can be seen as a form of award, they are generally not tangible and focus more on honor and recognition.
How do accolades differ from awards?
Accolades are primarily honor-based and non-tangible, focusing on praise and recognition, whereas awards are tangible recognitions, often accompanied by physical symbols or monetary benefits.
What is an accolade?
An accolade is a form of praise or recognition for someone's achievements or qualities.
What are examples of awards?
Trophies, medals, certificates, and scholarships are common examples.
What is an award?
An award is a tangible item or title given as recognition for achievements, excellence, or service.
What are examples of accolades?
Examples include verbal praise, written commendations, and titles of honor.
Do awards always include a physical component?
Yes, awards typically have a physical component, such as a trophy or certificate, representing the achievement.
Can accolades be given informally?
Yes, accolades can be given both formally and informally, depending on the context.
How do accolades impact an individual’s career?
Accolades can positively impact an individual's career by enhancing their professional reputation and opening up new opportunities.
How do awards benefit the recipient?
Awards provide recognition, can include material benefits, and may offer opportunities that support further achievements.
Is it common for individuals to receive both accolades and awards?
Yes, individuals often receive both accolades and awards in recognition of their accomplishments.
Are accolades important in the professional world?
Yes, accolades can significantly enhance an individual's reputation and credibility in their professional field.
How can one differentiate between accolades and awards in an academic setting?
In an academic setting, accolades often come as honors or titles, while awards may include scholarships, certificates, or trophies.
Can organizations receive accolades?
Yes, organizations can receive accolades for their contributions, achievements, or quality of work.
What role do awards play in competitive fields?
In competitive fields, awards serve as benchmarks of excellence and motivate others to strive for similar achievements.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
