English Reference

Word

medallist

Phoneticsmedal·list

UK/mˈɛdɐlˌɪst/

Definition

n. a person who wins a medal in a competition, especially in sports like the Olympics.

n. a person who has been awarded a medal, typically for achieving a top-three position in a sporting competition or for distinguished service.

Examples

“The gold medallist stood proudly on the podium.”

“After years of intense training, she finally became an Olympic medallist in the high jump.”

“The university invited several former Olympic medallists to speak at the commencement ceremony, hoping their stories of perseverance would inspire the graduating class.”

Examples

simple

“The gold medallist stood proudly on the podium.”

contextual

“After years of intense training, she finally became an Olympic medallist in the high jump.”

complex

“The university invited several former Olympic medallists to speak at the commencement ceremony, hoping their stories of perseverance would inspire the graduating class.”

Usage

Commonly modified by the type of medal won, such as 'gold', 'silver', or 'bronze'.

Real-World Examples

“Double gold medallist Ellen Walshe was also in action in the 200-metres butterfly final, where she finished fourth.”
BreakingNews.ie · 16 Aug 2026
“The men's team also led for most of the final, with Jeremiah Azu, Louie Hinchliffe and then 200m silver medallist Zharnel Hughes safely guiding the baton around to huge cheers inside Alexander Stadium.”
BBC News · 15 Aug 2026

Word family

medalNounmedalistNounmedallistNoun

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/medallist

English Reference