A public expression of deep respect, honor, or artistic indebtedness.
Reach for it when crediting a person, tradition, or earlier work with deliberate respect
The concert paid homage to the neighborhood musicians who created the style.
| playful | |
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| everyday | |
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal |
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| literary |
playful
nod
Fits when a small allusion recognizes an influence without dominating the new work
Careful Nod is informal and too slight for sustained or ceremonial homage.
everyday
Fits when respect should be expressed plainly through action or recognition
Careful Honor covers everything from courtesy to awards and lacks homage's deliberate deference.
warm
Fits when an act or work openly honors a person's contribution
Careful Tribute can commemorate the dead or celebrate the living without implying artistic influence.
professional
Fits when credit and recognition matter more than reverence
Careful Acknowledgment may meet a factual duty while lacking the warmth of homage.
professional
salute
Fits when a concise public acknowledgment suits a program or speech
Careful Salute carries military associations and can feel perfunctory.
literary
Fits when the respect approaches sacred depth
Careful Reverence is an attitude and may overstate an artistic reference.
pay homage
The mural will pay homage to the workers named in the original records.
loving homage
The adaptation is a loving homage rather than a copy.
homage to tradition
Her design offers homage to tradition while crediting its living practitioners.
musical homage
A musical homage quotes only enough of the theme to make its debt clear.
Keep in mind
Homage should credit the actual people or tradition involved and must not excuse unlicensed copying or cultural appropriation.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated
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