Award vs. Reward — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 25, 2023
An award is a formal recognition of achievement or excellence, while a reward is a return or compensation for a specific action or behavior.
Difference Between Award and Reward
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Award and Reward are both nouns that relate to receiving something, but their contexts and connotations differ. An award is typically a formal recognition given for specific achievements, talents, or excellence in a particular field. In contrast, a reward is generally given as a return or compensation for a particular action, behavior, or service.
Awards often come in the form of trophies, certificates, or titles. They are usually the result of a competition, evaluation, or judgment by a panel. For instance, an actor might receive an award for an outstanding performance in a film. On the other hand, rewards might be monetary, tangible goods, or even intangible benefits. A child might get a reward for doing chores or for good behavior.
In a work context, an employee might receive an award for years of dedicated service or for achieving the highest sales in a year. Meanwhile, the same employee might receive a reward in the form of a bonus for meeting a quarterly target or as an incentive to motivate future performance.
It's worth noting that while awards are often public and come with a degree of prestige, rewards can be both public or private and may or may not carry a sense of formal recognition. Fundamentally, awards celebrate excellence or achievement, while rewards acknowledge actions or behaviors.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Formal recognition of achievement.
Return or compensation for an action.
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Form
Trophies, certificates, titles.
Money, goods, benefits.
Given for
Excellence in a field or competition.
Specific actions or behaviors.
Associated with
Judgments, evaluations, competitions.
Incentives, motivations, returns.
Public/Private
Often public and prestigious.
Can be public or private.
Compare with Definitions
Award
A prize or other mark of recognition.
She received an award for her outstanding contribution to science.
Reward
A sum of money offered for information or a service.
There's a reward for information leading to the criminal's arrest.
Award
A formal grant of rights or property.
The court's award was in her favor.
Reward
The return for performance of a desired behavior.
Training a dog often requires giving rewards for good behavior.
Award
A distinction given for merit.
He won the Best Actor award at the film festival.
Reward
Something given in return for good behavior or work.
As a reward for his hard work, he was given a day off.
Award
A decision by an arbitrator or mediator.
The award was binding on both parties involved.
Reward
Something earned or gained as compensation.
The company provided rewards to its loyal customers.
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.
Reward
A thing given in recognition of service, effort, or achievement
He's reaping the rewards of his hard work and perseverance
The holiday was a reward for 40 years' service with the company
The emotional rewards of being a carer
Award
To grant as merited or due
Awarded prizes to the winners.
Reward
Give something to (someone) in recognition of their services, efforts, or achievements
The engineer who supervised the work was rewarded with the MBE
Award
To grant an amount or other benefit legally due
Awarded damages to the plaintiff.
Reward
A consequence that happens to someone as a result of worthy or unworthy behavior
The rewards of exercise.
The rewards of lying to your boss.
Award
Something awarded or granted, as for merit.
Reward
Money offered or given for some special service, such as the return of a lost article or the capture of a criminal.
Award
An amount or other benefit granted as legally due.
Reward
A satisfying return on investment; a profit.
Award
(legal) A judgment, sentence, or final decision. Specifically: The decision of arbitrators in a case submitted.
Reward
(Psychology) The return for performance of a desired behavior; positive reinforcement.
Award
(legal) The paper containing the decision of arbitrators; that which is warded.
Reward
To give a reward to or for.
Award
A trophy or medal; something that denotes an accomplishment, especially in a competition. A prize or honor based on merit.
Reward
Something of value given in return for an act.
For catching the thief, you'll get a nice reward.
Award
A negotiated minimum wage that is set for a particular trade or industry; an industrial award.
Reward
A prize promised for a certain deed or catch
The rewards for bringing in badly wanted criminals are printed on 'dead or alive' posters.
Award
(intransitive) To determine; to make or grant an award.
Reward
The result of an action, whether good or bad.
Is this the reward I get for telling the truth: to be put in jail?
Award
(transitive) To give (an award).
Four or five of these medals are awarded every year.
Reward
(transitive) To give a reward to or for.
Why are you rewarding the child for misbehaving?
Why are you rewarding that bad behaviour?
Award
(transitive) To give (a person) an award.
He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Reward
(transitive) To recompense.
Decorations are meant to reward the most meritous acts and services.
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
Reward
To give (something) as a reward.
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.
Reward
To give in return, whether good or evil; - commonly in a good sense; to requite; to recompense; to repay; to compensate.
After the deed that is done, one doom shall reward,Mercy or no mercy as truth will accord.
Thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.
God rewards those that have made use of the single talent.
Award
To determine; to make an award.
Reward
Regard; respect; consideration.
Take reward of thine own value.
Award
A judgment, sentence, or final decision. Specifically: The decision of arbitrators in a case submitted.
An award had been given against.
Reward
That which is given in return for good or evil done or received; esp., that which is offered or given in return for some service or attainment, as for excellence in studies, for the return of something lost, etc.; recompense; requital.
Thou returnestFrom flight, seditious angel, to receiveThy merited reward.
Rewards and punishments do always presuppose something willingly done well or ill.
Award
The paper containing the decision of arbitrators; that which is warded.
Reward
Hence, the fruit of one's labor or works.
The dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward.
Award
A grant made by a law court;
He criticized the awarding of compensation by the court
Reward
Compensation or remuneration for services; a sum of money paid or taken for doing, or forbearing to do, some act.
Award
A tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction;
An award for bravery
Reward
A recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing;
The wages of sin is death
Virtue is its own reward
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
Reward
Payment made in return for a service rendered
Award
Give, especially as a reward;
Bestow honors and prizes at graduation
Reward
An act performed to strengthen approved behavior
Award
Give on the basis of merit;
Funds are granted to qualified researchers
Reward
The offer of money for helping to find a criminal or for returning lost property
Award
Bestow an honor upon
Reward
Benefit resulting from some event or action;
It turned out to my advantage
Reaping the rewards of generosity
Award
An amount of money granted as a result of a legal decision.
The injury claim resulted in a significant award.
Reward
Bestow honor or rewards upon;
Today we honor our soldiers
The scout was rewarded for courageus action
Reward
Strengthen and support with rewards;
Let's reinforce good behavior
Reward
Act or give recompensation in recognition of someone's behavior or actions
Reward
Satisfaction obtained from a task.
The reward of gardening is seeing the flowers bloom.
Common Curiosities
Is a "reward" always positive?
Typically, but context matters; a "reward" usually results from positive actions or behaviors.
Can an award be given without a competition?
Yes, awards can be given for general excellence or achievement without competition.
Can "reward" refer to intrinsic satisfaction?
Yes, one can feel a "reward" from personal satisfaction in completing a task.
Are "award" and "reward" interchangeable?
Not always; while both involve receiving something, "award" implies formal recognition, while "reward" implies compensation.
Is an Oscar an award or reward?
An Oscar is an award given for cinematic achievements.
Can a bonus at work be considered a reward?
Yes, a bonus can be a reward for good performance or meeting certain targets.
Can animals be rewarded?
Yes, animals can be rewarded, often to reinforce positive behavior.
Can "award" refer to money?
Yes, especially in legal contexts where one might receive a monetary award.
Are rewards always monetary?
No, rewards can be experiences, objects, or even just acknowledgment.
Are there ceremonies for giving out rewards?
While ceremonies often accompany awards, rewards can be given with or without ceremonies.
Are awards always tangible?
Not necessarily; while many are (like trophies), some, like titles, are intangible.
Is "award" used in legal contexts?
Yes, it can refer to money or property granted as a result of a legal decision.
Can rewards be spontaneous?
Yes, rewards can be given spontaneously in response to an action or behavior.
Can an "award" be given for negative reasons?
Typically, awards are positive recognitions, but in some contexts, they might highlight negative events (like a dubious record).
Who decides the recipient of an award?
Often, a panel, committee, or governing body decides based on criteria.
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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.
