Award vs. Reward: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on December 29, 2023
An award is a recognition or honor for achievement, often public and formal, while a reward is a benefit given in return for service, effort, or achievement, typically more personal and practical.
Key Differences
An award is usually a formal acknowledgment of excellence or achievement in a specific field or activity. In contrast, a reward is a benefit, often material or monetary, given in response to someone's actions or behavior.
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Dec 29, 2023
Awards are often presented in formal ceremonies and can include trophies, titles, or certificates. Rewards, however, can be informal, such as bonuses, gifts, or privileges, given as an incentive or gratitude.
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Dec 29, 2023
Awards are typically associated with public recognition, celebrating accomplishments like artistic, academic, or professional excellence. Rewards are more personal, often used as motivation in work, education, or behavioral contexts.
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Dec 29, 2023
The process of receiving an award is generally competitive, requiring meeting specific criteria or outperforming others. Conversely, rewards can be given for meeting or exceeding expectations in various scenarios, not necessarily involving competition.
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Dec 29, 2023
Awards serve to acknowledge and honor past achievements, while rewards can both recognize past behavior and encourage future actions.
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Dec 29, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Nature
Formal recognition for achievements
Benefit given for service, effort, or achievement
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Competition
Usually involves meeting set criteria or competition
Given for meeting or exceeding expectations
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Focus
Celebrating past accomplishments
Recognizing past actions and encouraging future ones
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Award and Reward Definitions
Award
"A prize or honor given for excellence in a certain field."
She received an award for her groundbreaking scientific research.
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Reward
"A prize or benefit given as recognition for effort."
The reward for finding the lost dog was a heartfelt thank you and a small cash sum.
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Dec 14, 2023
Award
"A formal acknowledgment of merit or excellence."
He was given an award for his decades of service to the community.
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Dec 14, 2023
Reward
"A return or compensation for service, often seen as a motivation."
He received a cash reward for meeting his monthly targets.
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Dec 14, 2023
Award
"A trophy, title, certificate, or similar honor denoting achievement."
The novelist was thrilled to receive a literary award.
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Reward
"A form of incentive or gratitude for accomplishing a task or behavior."
Parents often give children a reward for good behavior.
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Award
"An honor bestowed in recognition of outstanding performance."
The athlete was proud to add another award to her collection.
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Reward
A consequence that happens to someone as a result of worthy or unworthy behavior
The rewards of exercise.
The rewards of lying to your boss.
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Award
"Recognition granted for achievement, often in competitive contexts."
The film won an award at the international festival.
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Reward
Money offered or given for some special service, such as the return of a lost article or the capture of a criminal.
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Award
To grant an amount or other benefit legally due
Awarded damages to the plaintiff.
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Reward
(Psychology) The return for performance of a desired behavior; positive reinforcement.
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Reward
Something of value given in return for an act.
For catching the thief, you'll get a nice reward.
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Award
(legal) A judgment, sentence, or final decision. Specifically: The decision of arbitrators in a case submitted.
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Reward
A prize promised for a certain deed or catch
The rewards for bringing in badly wanted criminals are printed on 'dead or alive' posters.
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Award
(legal) The paper containing the decision of arbitrators; that which is warded.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reward
The result of an action, whether good or bad.
Is this the reward I get for telling the truth: to be put in jail?
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Award
A trophy or medal; something that denotes an accomplishment, especially in a competition. A prize or honor based on merit.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reward
(transitive) To give a reward to or for.
Why are you rewarding the child for misbehaving?
Why are you rewarding that bad behaviour?
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Award
A negotiated minimum wage that is set for a particular trade or industry; an industrial award.
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Reward
(transitive) To recompense.
Decorations are meant to reward the most meritous acts and services.
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Dec 13, 2023
Award
(transitive) To give (an award).
Four or five of these medals are awarded every year.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reward
To give in return, whether good or evil; - commonly in a good sense; to requite; to recompense; to repay; to compensate.
After the deed that is done, one doom shall reward,Mercy or no mercy as truth will accord.
Thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.
God rewards those that have made use of the single talent.
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Award
(transitive) To give (a person) an award.
He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.
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Award
To give by sentence or judicial determination; to assign or apportion, after careful regard to the nature of the case.
The arbitrators awarded damages to the complainant
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Reward
That which is given in return for good or evil done or received; esp., that which is offered or given in return for some service or attainment, as for excellence in studies, for the return of something lost, etc.; recompense; requital.
Thou returnestFrom flight, seditious angel, to receiveThy merited reward.
Rewards and punishments do always presuppose something willingly done well or ill.
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Dec 13, 2023
Award
To give by sentence or judicial determination; to assign or apportion, after careful regard to the nature of the case; to adjudge; as, the arbitrators awarded damages to the complainant.
To reviewThe wrongful sentence, and award a new.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reward
Hence, the fruit of one's labor or works.
The dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reward
Compensation or remuneration for services; a sum of money paid or taken for doing, or forbearing to do, some act.
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Dec 13, 2023
Award
A judgment, sentence, or final decision. Specifically: The decision of arbitrators in a case submitted.
An award had been given against.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reward
A recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing;
The wages of sin is death
Virtue is its own reward
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Award
The paper containing the decision of arbitrators; that which is warded.
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Award
A grant made by a law court;
He criticized the awarding of compensation by the court
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Award
A tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction;
An award for bravery
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Reward
The offer of money for helping to find a criminal or for returning lost property
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Award
Something given for victory or superiority in a contest or competition or for winning a lottery;
The prize was a free trip to Europe
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Reward
Benefit resulting from some event or action;
It turned out to my advantage
Reaping the rewards of generosity
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Reward
Bestow honor or rewards upon;
Today we honor our soldiers
The scout was rewarded for courageus action
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Award
Give on the basis of merit;
Funds are granted to qualified researchers
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Reward
Act or give recompensation in recognition of someone's behavior or actions
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Dec 13, 2023
Reward
"A benefit given in recognition of one's service, effort, or achievement."
The company gave her a reward for her exceptional sales performance.
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Dec 14, 2023
Reward
"An outcome serving as a return for performing a specific action or behavior."
The reward for completing the marathon was a sense of immense personal achievement.
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Dec 14, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Who decides on giving an award?
Awards are usually decided by a panel or committee based on set criteria.
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Dec 29, 2023
Are rewards always financial?
No, rewards can be financial, material, or even intangible like privileges or recognition.
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Dec 29, 2023
Can awards be monetary?
While typically symbolic, some awards can include monetary components.
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Dec 29, 2023
What typically motivates giving a reward?
Rewards are given as motivation or gratitude for service, effort, or specific actions.
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Dec 29, 2023
What is the primary purpose of an award?
To formally recognize and honor excellence or achievement in various fields.
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Dec 29, 2023
What factors influence the giving of a reward?
Rewards are often based on personal or organizational assessment of performance or behavior.
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Dec 29, 2023
Can a reward be a form of punishment?
No, rewards are positive; they encourage desirable actions, unlike punishments.
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Dec 29, 2023
What's a common form of reward in the workplace?
Bonuses and promotions are common rewards in the workplace.
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Dec 29, 2023
Can anyone receive an award?
Awards are generally open to those who meet specific criteria in various fields.
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Dec 29, 2023
Who can give a reward?
Anyone can give a reward, from employers to parents, depending on the context.
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Dec 29, 2023
Do awards have to be competitive?
Many awards are competitive, but some may be given for meeting excellence standards.
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Dec 29, 2023
Is public recognition a part of awards?
Yes, awards typically involve public recognition.
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Dec 29, 2023
What's an example of a prestigious award?
The Nobel Prize is an example of a prestigious award.
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Can awards be revoked?
In rare cases, awards can be revoked if criteria are later found unmet.
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Are awards given regularly?
Awards are often given annually or at specific intervals in various industries.
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Are awards more formal than rewards?
Yes, awards are generally more formal, with structured criteria and ceremonies.
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Dec 29, 2023
Do rewards always have to be planned?
No, rewards can be both planned and impromptu, based on the achievement or action.
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Dec 29, 2023
Do rewards have lasting value?
Rewards can have lasting value, especially when they contribute to personal or career development.
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Dec 29, 2023
Can rewards be spontaneous?
Yes, rewards can be given spontaneously as immediate recognition.
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Dec 29, 2023
Can rewards be private?
Rewards can be either public or private, depending on the situation.
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Dec 29, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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