medallion

medallion — noun

1. a round metal ornament that hangs from a chain around your neck, often given as

1.nounB1
Definition

a round metal ornament that hangs from a chain around your neck, often given as a reward for doing something important or worn for decoration.

Example

Mayumi wore a gold medallion on a thin chain to her grandmother's birthday party.

wear + medallion as jewellery on a chain

The marathon winner received a commemorative medallion engraved with the race date.

receive + medallion as an award for achievement

Common collocations
  • gold medallion
  • silver medallion
  • bronze medallion
  • commemorative medallion
  • wear a medallion
  • medallion on a chain
  • medallion around one's neck
Synonyms
  • pendant

    a piece of jewellery that hangs from a necklace; can be any shape or material, not necessarily a flat metal disc.

  • medal

    a flat piece of metal given as an award, usually pinned to clothing rather than worn on a chain.

  • locket

    a small pendant that opens to show a photograph or keepsake inside.

Grammar Patterns

medallion + on + chain/necklace

wear + medallion

award/present + medallion + to + person

Usage Note

Often confused with 'medal'. A medallion is larger and designed to be worn on a chain around the neck, while a medal is typically pinned to clothing and given specifically for achievement in competitions.

Common Mistakes

She pinned the medallion to her jacket.
She pinned the medal to her jacket.
A 'medal' is pinned on clothing; a 'medallion' is worn on a chain around the neck.
The soldier received a medallion for bravery.
The soldier received a medal for bravery.
Official military honours are called 'medals', not 'medallions'.

2. a small, flat, round, boneless cut taken from an animal or from fish, served as

2.nounB2
Definition

a small, flat, round, boneless cut taken from an animal or from fish, served as one helping in a meal.

Example

The chef served a pork medallion with roasted vegetables and a light mushroom sauce.

meat type + medallion + with sauce

For the main course, Beatrix ordered the veal medallions in a creamy pepper sauce.

Common collocations
  • pork medallions
  • veal medallions
  • chicken medallions
  • salmon medallions
  • pan-fried medallions
  • medallions in cream sauce
  • serve medallions
Synonyms
  • cutlet

    a thin slice of meat, often from the leg or ribs, usually with a bone attached.

  • fillet

    a boneless piece of meat or fish, but not necessarily round in shape.

  • round

    a slice of meat or vegetable cut into a circular shape; less specific than medallion.

Grammar Patterns

[meat/fish type] + medallion(s)

medallion(s) + in/with + [sauce]

serve + medallions

Usage Note

Common on restaurant menus and in cookbooks. The term describes the shape and presentation (small, round, boneless) rather than a specific type of meat or fish. Often appears in the plural form (medallions) even for a single dish.

Common Mistakes

I bought a medallion of chicken at the market.
I bought chicken medallions at the market.
In culinary use, the plural form is more natural even when referring to the product in general.

Word family

  • medal
    nounB1
  • medallist
    nounB2
  • medallic
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A medallion is a large, flat metal disc designed to be worn on a chain around the neck — it can be purely decorative jewellery or an award for an achievement. A medal serves a similar award function but is smaller and pinned onto clothing (e.g., an Olympic gold medal). A pendant is any piece of jewellery that hangs from a necklace; it does not have to be round or flat — it could be a gemstone, a cross, or any decorative shape. A locket is a type of pendant that opens to reveal a small photograph or keepsake inside. For example, a soldier receives a medal pinned to their uniform, not a medallion; you might give a locket containing a family photo as a gift; and a religious pendant could be worn every day.

medal ↗pendant ↗locket

Common collocations

Nouns

  • gold medallion
  • silver medallion
  • bronze medallion
  • pork medallions
  • veal medallions
  • chicken medallions
  • salmon medallions

Phrases

  • commemorative medallion
  • medallion of honour
  • pan-fried medallions
  • medallions in cream sauce

Prepositions

  • medallion on a chain
  • medallion around one's neck
  • medallions in sauce
  • medallions with vegetables

Etymology

LatinItalianFrenchEnglish

The word 'medallion' entered English in the mid-1600s from French 'médaillon', which came from Italian 'medaglione', meaning 'large medal'. The Italian word was formed by adding a large-size ending to 'medaglia' ('medal'), which itself came from Latin 'medalia', meaning a small coin. Over time, the meaning shifted from 'large coin' to 'coin-like decoration worn as jewellery' and later (in the 1900s) to a culinary term for a round, flat piece of meat.