Medal of Freedom
noun /ˌmedl əv ˈfriːdəm/
/ˌmedl əv ˈfriːdəm/
(also Presidential Medal of Freedom)
- a medal in the US that is the highest award a person can be given during a time of peaceCultureThe medal was established as the Medal of Freedom in 1945 and was given its new name in 1963 by President John F Kennedy. It is given to people who have an important positive effect on US interests, world peace, culture or society. People who received the award include Thurgood Marshall, Arthur Ashe, Margaret Thatcher and Aretha Franklin. It can be awarded after a person has died.