Synonyms

consolation prize

American

noun

a prize, usually of minor value, given to the loser or runner-up in a contest, competition, etc., or to all losers who have performed well or met certain standards.

consolation prize British

noun

a prize given to console a loser of a game

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of consolation prize

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“If you don’t have quite good enough credit to qualify for a 0% balanced-transfer card, a low-interest personal loan is a pretty good consolation prize,” Schulz said.

From MarketWatch

Tahnoon was given what many viewed as a consolation prize—control over two of the country’s largest wealth funds, making him the face of the country’s financial arm.

From The Wall Street Journal

This is what a consolation prize feels like.

From Los Angeles Times

They had booked the full tour of Parliament but turned up on the wrong day so as a consolation prize are going to watch MPs in action.

From BBC

The consolation prize was a larger role for Presley.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023