Medal vs. Trophy — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 3, 2024
Medals are awarded to individuals for personal achievements, emphasizing honor and recognition, while trophies symbolize victory or success, often in competitive events.
Difference Between Medal and Trophy
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Medals are typically worn or displayed as symbols of individual achievement, showcasing personal excellence or distinction in various fields, such as sports, academics, or military service. They are often made of metal and designed to be worn around the neck. On the other hand, trophies are physical awards given primarily to denote victory or success in competitions, representing collective achievement or the highest level of performance in an event. Trophies are usually crafted to stand on their own, made from materials like metal, plastic, or wood, and often feature a figure or emblem related to the activity or event.
While medals are personal and closely associated with the recipient's identity, signifying a direct acknowledgment of an individual’s efforts or valor, trophies tend to be more about the competition or event itself, celebrating the winner's rank or team's success over others. This distinction highlights the personalized nature of medals versus the competitive symbolism of trophies.
Medals come in various designs, reflecting the specific achievement or honor they are intended to represent. The design often includes symbols or inscriptions relevant to the awarding body or the reason for the award. Trophies, in contrast, are designed to be visually impressive and symbolic of the specific event or achievement, with elements that reflect the nature of the competition or achievement, such as a cup, a figure performing the relevant activity, or an emblem of the awarding organization.
Another notable difference is the manner of presentation and subsequent display. Medals are presented in ceremonies that often emphasize the personal courage, dedication, or achievement of the recipient, and they are designed to be worn or displayed in a way that keeps the individual’s achievement at the forefront. Trophies, meanwhile, are often awarded in a celebratory context, focusing on the competition and the winner's supremacy, and are displayed as a symbol of collective pride or personal success in a competitive framework.
The emotional and symbolic value of medals and trophies can differ significantly. For the recipient, a medal may carry profound personal significance, representing a culmination of effort, skill, or bravery. Trophies, while also highly valued, might symbolize the joy of victory and the culmination of a team's or individual's competitive journey, often serving as a reminder of a specific event or competition rather than a personal journey or valor.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Symbolism
Individual achievement, honor, and recognition.
Victory in competitions, success, and collective achievement.
Material
Often metal, designed for wearing.
Varied materials (metal, plastic, wood), designed to stand.
Design Focus
Personal excellence and valor.
Competition and victory symbolism.
Presentation
Personal achievement, worn around the neck.
Celebratory, focusing on competition, stands on its own.
Emotional Value
Personal significance, effort, and bravery.
Collective pride, joy of victory, competition reminder.
Compare with Definitions
Medal
A piece of metal, often gold, silver, or bronze, awarded as a mark of honor for personal achievement.
He proudly wore his gold medal from the Olympics.
Trophy
A cup or other decorative object awarded as a prize for a victory or success.
The team lifted the trophy high after winning the championship.
Medal
A small, flat, and typically round piece of metal given as an award for an achievement.
The science fair participants each received a medal for their innovative projects.
Trophy
An object retained as a memento of achievement, especially in sports.
His room was filled with trophies from his racing career.
Medal
A decoration awarded by a government to a person or organization for a distinguished act or service.
The soldier was awarded a medal for his bravery in combat.
Trophy
A symbolic representation of achievement in competitions.
The trophy for the best-in-show dog was a silver statue.
Medal
A token of recognition in academic, military, or sports achievements.
Each marathon finisher received a medal at the end of the race.
Trophy
An award given for a particular achievement, often bearing inscriptions.
She received a trophy for her outstanding contributions to the community.
Medal
An emblem or piece of jewelry resembling a medal, used as an ornament or symbol.
She wore a medal depicting her patron saint for protection.
Trophy
Something gained or given in victory or conquest.
The trophy symbolized his first major victory in professional tennis.
Medal
A medal or medallion is a small portable artistic object, a thin disc, normally of metal, carrying a design, usually on both sides. They typically have a commemorative purpose of some kind, and many are given as awards.
Trophy
A trophy is a tangible, durable reminder of a specific achievement, and serves as a recognition or evidence of merit. Trophies are often awarded for sporting events, from youth sports to professional level athletics.
Medal
A metal disc typically of the size of a large coin and bearing an inscription or design, made to commemorate an event or awarded as a distinction to someone such as a soldier or athlete.
Trophy
A prize or memento, such as a cup or plaque, received as a symbol of victory, especially in sports.
Medal
Win a medal in a sporting event
They medalled in all the relay events
Trophy
A specimen or part, such as a lion's head, preserved as a token of a successful hunt.
Medal
A flat piece of metal stamped with a design or an inscription commemorating an event or a person, often given as an award.
Trophy
A memento, as of one's personal achievements.
Medal
A piece of metal stamped with a religious device, used as an object of veneration or commemoration.
Trophy
The spoils of war, dedicated in classical antiquity with an inscription to a deity and set up as a temporary monument on or near a battlefield, placed in an existing temple, or housed in a permanent, new structure.
Medal
To win a medal, as in a sports contest
"We were the first Americans to medal" (Jill Watson).
Trophy
An ornamental depiction of a group of weapons or pieces of armor.
Medal
To award a medal to.
Trophy
A similar depiction of a group of other items, such as musical instruments or agricultural implements.
Medal
A stamped metal disc used as a personal ornament, a charm, or a religious object.
Trophy
Impressive or ostentatious so as to display one's wealth or status
A trophy home.
Medal
A stamped or cast metal object (usually a disc), particularly one awarded as a prize or reward.
Trophy
An object, usually in the form of a statuette, cup, or shield, awarded for success in a competition or to mark a special achievement.
He won the trophy in a running competition.
Medal
To win a medal.
He medalled twice at the Olympics.
Trophy
An object taken as a prize by a hunter or conqueror, especially one that is displayed.
The set of antlers which hung on the wall was his prized trophy.
Medal
(transitive) To award a medal to.
Trophy
Any emblem of success; a status symbol.
His trophies included his second wife, his successful children, the third and fourth homes in Palm Beach and Malibu, and his three yachts.
Medal
A piece of metal in the form of a coin, struck with a device, and intended to preserve the remembrance of a notable event or an illustrious person, or to serve as a reward.
Trophy
An object taken by a serial killer or rapist as a memento of the crime.
Medal
To honor or reward with a medal.
Trophy
A tropæum.
Medal
An award for winning a championship or commemorating some other event
Trophy
A display of weaponry and other militaria, often captured from a defeated enemy, as an ornament designed for the purpose of triumphalist display by a victor or as a show of military prowess by a monarch.
Trophy
An artifact or artwork that has been stolen by a criminal and traded on the black market.
Trophy
An animal killed by a trophy hunter that usually has its parts sold on the black market.
Trophy
(transitive) To adorn with trophies.
Trophy
(intransitive) To win a trophy in a competition.
Trophy
A sign or memorial of a victory raised on the field of battle, or, in case of a naval victory, on the nearest land. Sometimes trophies were erected in the chief city of the conquered people.
Trophy
The representation of such a memorial, as on a medal; esp. (Arch.), an ornament representing a group of arms and military weapons, offensive and defensive.
Trophy
Anything taken from an enemy and preserved as a memorial of victory, as arms, flags, standards, etc.
Around the posts hung helmets, darts, and spears,And captive chariots, axes, shields, and bars,And broken beaks of ships, the trophies of their wars.
Trophy
Any evidence or memorial of victory or conquest; as, every redeemed soul is a trophy of grace.
Trophy
Of, pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained from atropine and certain other alkaloids, as a white crystalline substance slightly soluble in water.
Trophy
An award for success in war or hunting
Trophy
Something given as a token of victory
Common Curiosities
What is the main difference between a medal and a trophy?
A medal is a personal award worn as a badge of honor for individual achievement, while a trophy is a physical award symbolizing victory in competitions.
Are medals only awarded in sports?
No, medals can be awarded in various fields including academics, military service, and arts for personal achievements.
Can both medals and trophies be made of metal?
Yes, both can be made of metal, but medals are designed to be worn, whereas trophies are designed to stand on display.
What does a trophy symbolize?
A trophy symbolizes success and victory in competitions, representing either individual or team achievements.
Is it common to display medals and trophies?
Yes, recipients often display medals and trophies in their homes or workplaces as symbols of pride and achievement.
Can a medal be considered a trophy?
While both are awards, a medal is specifically designed to be worn and symbolizes personal achievement, making it distinct from a trophy.
Do medals have emotional value?
Medals carry profound emotional value, symbolizing personal effort, bravery, or achievement.
Can a trophy be awarded to an individual?
Yes, trophies can be awarded to individuals or teams, depending on the nature of the competition or achievement.
How do you determine if someone should receive a medal or a trophy?
The choice between a medal or a trophy depends on the nature of the achievement, with medals typically for personal honors and trophies for competitive victories.
Are trophies always larger than medals?
Typically, yes, trophies are larger and designed to stand on their own, but size can vary based on the awarding body's preferences.
Is the design of a medal important?
Yes, the design of a medal is significant as it reflects the specific achievement, honor, or valor it represents.
Can trophies have inscriptions?
Absolutely, trophies often bear inscriptions that detail the competition, the winner's name, and the date of the event.
Can anyone receive a medal?
Medals are awarded to individuals who meet specific criteria for personal achievements or honors.
Why are trophies used in sports?
Trophies are used in sports to symbolize victory, celebrate the winner's success, and serve as a memento of the competition.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
