An object, such as a cup or plaque, given as a prize for winning or doing very well in a competition.
From Greek *tropaion*, a monument set up on a battlefield at the place the enemy turned to flee (*tropē* “a turning”). The word moved through Latin and French into English, shifting from war monuments to sports prizes.
Ancient trophies were literally made from enemy weapons piled on a post to mark where a battle turned in your favor. Today’s shiny cups are much friendlier, but they still say, “This is the moment everything turned and we won.”
Beyond awards, ‘trophy’ has been used in sexist ways to describe women as status symbols (e.g., ‘trophy wife’), reducing them to objects that signify a man’s success. This reflects and reinforces patterns of objectification and unequal power in relationships.
Avoid describing people as trophies or status symbols; focus on their agency and attributes rather than how they reflect on someone else.
["award","prize","recognition"]
When discussing achievements, emphasize the accomplishments of women and marginalized people themselves rather than framing them as trophies for others.
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