participation trophy
Everyone wins award
A participation trophy is an award given to everyone who takes part in an activity regardless of achievement or skill.
The practice emerged in youth sports to encourage involvement, but the term now carries dismissive connotations—implying unearned recognition or the coddling of those who can't handle losing: They think showing up deserves a participation trophy.
- ribbonSlender ornamental strip
- medalMetal honor token
- third placeRank after second
- consolationComfort during distress
- winnerOne who prevails
loser · award · recognition · good job · effort · taking part · showed up · childhood · soccer · youth sports · rec league · ceremony · self-esteem · entitlement · special snowflake · snowflake · millennial · coddling
- Sports AwardsMVP, gold medal, silver medal, Gold Glove, bronze medal
- Dubious Honorsbooby prize, wooden spoon, consolation prize, dunce cap, last place
- youth hockeymites, peewee, bantam, midget, tyke
- generationsbaby boomers, millennials, Gen Z, Gen X, baby boomer
- letdownsletdown, disappointment, anticlimax, dud, flop
- youth sports tournamentsLittle League, basketball camp, swim meet, track meet, wrestling tournament
participation trophychampionship trophy
Award for winning title
first place · gold medal · grand prize · MVP award · championship ring
participation trophywinner-take-all
Only champion receives reward
meritocracy · survival of the fittest · zero-sum game · natural selection · sink or swim
participation trophybadge of honor
Source of earned pride
military decoration · Purple Heart · Medal of Honor · school of hard knocks
participation, participate, participant, participants, participating, participated, participatory, participative, trophy