Definition

1. Noun:
   • A prize or award given to commemorate a victory or success: A physical object, often a cup, shield, or statue, presented as a symbol of achievement, typically in sports, competitions, or other contests.
   • A memento or souvenir taken as a token of success in hunting or war: Historically, something taken and kept (such as animal parts or captured weapons) to symbolize a successful hunt or military victory.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The team proudly lifted the championship trophy.
  • He keeps a deer's antlers as a hunting trophy on his wall.
  • She won three trophies for her science fair projects.

Advanced Usage

• "Trophy wife/husband": A sometimes derogatory term for a spouse, typically younger and attractive, who is perceived as a status symbol for the other partner.

  • The media often criticized the CEO for his trophy wife.

• "Trophy case": A cabinet or display case specifically for holding trophies and awards.

  • The school's trophy case is filled with awards from decades of athletic success.

Variants and Related Words

• Trophied (adj): Adorned with or having won trophies.
  • The trophied shelf was a testament to his career.

Synonyms

• Cup: A common type of trophy, especially in sports.
• Award: A more general term for a prize given for achievement.
• Prize: Something offered or won in a competition.
• Memento: An object kept as a reminder or souvenir of an event.

Related Phrases

• "To trophy hunt": To hunt animals primarily to obtain a trophy, such as a head or horns, for display.
  • The debate over trophy hunting is often heated.

Related Idioms

• "A trophy on the mantelpiece": Used figuratively to describe an achievement that is displayed or boasted about.
  • Winning that contract was a real trophy on the mantelpiece for the small company.

Noun

1. something given as a token of victory
2. an award for success in war or hunting