An award is 1.) a prize, medal, grant or other item given in recognition of an achievement, 2.) the action of giving a prize, medal, grant or other item in recognition of an achievement, 3.) compensation bestowed because of a legal judgement, 4.) the action of bestowing compensation because of a legal judgement. Award may be used as a noun or as a transitive verb, which is a verb that takes an object. Awards are often sought. Award enters the English language in the fourteenth century, from the Old French esguarder which means consider or ordain.
A reward is 1.) a prize, bonus or token of appreciation given in recognition of one’s service or effort, 2.) the just return on one’s good or bad actions, 3.) monetary compensation for the apprehension of a criminal or the return of missing goods, or information leading to the apprehension of a criminal or the return of missing goods, 4.) the action of bestowing compensation for any of the preceding situations. Reward may be used as a noun or as a transitive verb, which is a verb that takes an object. Rewards are given regardless of whether they are sought. Reward enters the English language in the fourteenth century from the Old North French word rewarder, meaning to regard or reward.
Examples
At the White House on Tuesday, first lady Michelle Obama doled out awards to after-school arts programs, including the DREAM program at CityDance, where the Obamas’ daughter Sasha takes hip-hop classes. (The Washington Post)
The winner of the Costa children’s book award also has the chance to win the overall Costa (and £30,000!) – that hasn’t happened since 2001 when Philip Pullman won with The Amber Spyglass, so it’s about time… (The Guardian)
In the restaurant world, this is the time to vote for nominees for the James Beard Foundation awards, also dubbed “the Oscars of the food world” by Time magazine. (The Des Moines Register)
Using the same example, a gold member would earn about 12 percent more reward miles, while a platinum member would earn 20 percent fewer miles. (The Chicago Tribune)
Virginia hoping to end season with victories as a reward to senior class (The Washington Times)
Russia’s FSB security service has offered a $50 million reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for downing a passenger plane over Egypt. (The Bristol Herald Courier)