key to the city
Civic recognition award
A key to the city is a ceremonial honor bestowed by a municipality upon a distinguished visitor or local hero.
The tradition derives from medieval walled cities, where possessing an actual key to the gates granted unrestricted access.
Modern recipients receive a decorative oversized key, usually at a public ceremony, symbolizing the city's trust and welcome.
The mayor presented the key to the city to the championship-winning team.
- mayorElected head of municipality
- red carpetCeremonial welcome flooring
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
- tokenRepresentative placeholder
- privilegeExclusive right or benefit
honor · key · symbolic · medallion · brass · guest · VIP treatment · access · honorary degree · recipient · recognition · esteem · golden key · keys to the kingdom · civic pride · freedom · distinguished service · insignia
- civic honorsmedal, award, community service award, plaque, citizenship award
- awardsaward, awards, winner, winners, prize
- honor ceremoniesmedal ceremony, awards banquet, military honors, pinning ceremony, promotion ceremony
- honorsmedal, award, trophy, certificate, prize
key to the citybanishment
Forced removal from place
exile · expulsion · persona non grata · public censure · deportation
keyed, keying, keyhole, keyboard, keystone, city, cities, citizen, civility