Noun

Singular medal

Plural medals

medal (plural medals)

1. A stamped or cast metal disc, particularly one awarded as a prize.

Derived terms

• gold medal — a medal designed for first-place winners
• silver medal — a medal designed for second-place winners
• bronze medal — a medal designed for third-place winners

A Medal, or Medallion, is generally a circular object that has been sculpted, molded, cast, struck, stamped or some way rendered with an insignia, portrait or other artistic rendering. A medal may be awarded to a person or organization as a form of recognition for athletic, military, scientific, academic or various other achievements. Medals may also be created to commemorate particular individuals or events, or even as works of artistic expression in their own right; artists who focus their talents on the creation of medals or medallions are termed a medalist. There are also devotional medals which may be worn as a matter of religious faith. Medals are popular collectible items either as a form of exonumia or of militaria phaleristics.

The word 'medal' is derived from the Latin medalia, which was a copper coin. 'Medallion' comes from the French word médaillon, a term applied to round food rationings because of their similar shape to a médaille, and has come to be applied to particularly large medals. Medallions are occasionally referred to as "table medals" because they are too large to be worn and can only be displayed on a table top, desk or cabinet. Medals may also be produced in a rectangular shape, though these would more correctly be described as a placque, and a smaller version as a plaquette. In colloquial use, a medallion is sometimes improperly used to refer to a pendant of a necklace.

There are idioms that exist in both British and American English that are sarcastic in nature and which asks if a man believes he "deserves a medal", or has a man demand he should "get a medal", for his actions or suffering. The statements imply that his achievements or deprivations are more significant than they actually are, and in turn exaggerating his situation to a point of ridiculous merit.