Honorable mention

n.joyful, capableprofessional

What it means

Formal recognition for work judged worthy of notice without receiving a main award.

Reach for it when describing a specific level of recognition accurately

Her first short story received an honorable mention from the regional judges.

everyday
runner-up recognition
the recipient placed close behind a winner
not when This category does not place the recipient second unless the rules say so.
warm
acknowledgment
contribution deserves recognition without competition language
not when Acknowledgment can be informal and may not reflect a judging decision.
professional
merit award
documented quality earns a named award
not when A merit award may be a full prize, while honorable mention is normally secondary recognition.
professional
special mention
judges single out worthy work outside the main prizes
not when Special mention can follow different rules and should not replace the award's official wording.
formal
citation
a written statement records the reason for recognition
not when Citation can mean a legal notice, academic reference, or award text rather than the recognition itself.
formal
commendation
an authority formally praises merit or service
not when A commendation can be a principal honor and need not indicate placement below an award.

receive an honorable mention
Two student teams received an honorable mention for accessible design.
earn an honorable mention
The essay earned an honorable mention without being ranked second.
honorable mention award
The honorable mention award includes written feedback from the panel.

Use the awarding body's exact category; honorable mention does not automatically mean runner-up or finalist.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.