Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 5, 2024 is: accolade \AK-uh-layd\ noun

Accolade refers to an award or expression of praise. It is often used in the plural form.

// The movie's special effects have drawn accolades from both fans and critics.

[See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accolade)

Examples:

"'It is a tremendous honor to be mentioned on the extended World's 50 Best List,' says Executive Chef Lee, who later tells us that it wasn't necessarily one of their immediate goals, making the tremendous accolade quite the surprise. 'I am extremely grateful that we are getting attention on the world stage and I am so happy that the team here at Saison gets the recognition for their hard work.'" — Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023

Did you know?

Give credit where credit is due: it's time to celebrate accolade for its centuries of [laudatory](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laudatory) service. Accolade joined English in the 16th century from the Middle French noun acolade, which in turn comes from the verb accoler, meaning "to embrace." When it was first borrowed from French, accolade referred to a ceremonial embrace that formally conferred knighthood. The term was later extended to other ceremonial acts conferring knighthood (such as the familiar touching of the shoulders with the flat part of a sword's blade), and then to other ceremonies marking the recognition of a special merit, distinction, or achievement. Today it refers more broadly to an award or expression of praise.