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Homage Definition – Meaning and Usage In A Sentence

Homage Definition – Meaning and Usage In A Sentence

Do you fancy learning about commonly misused words such as homage? You’re not alone; many people don’t know what the term homage means or how to use it in a sentence. So what is the correct homage definition and usage in different contexts?

Homage is defined as something done or said by someone to show respect. It’s a term that is used to show great concern and admiration. You can also use the word when talking about a leader or deity to show honor. 

Today, we discuss the meaning of the word “homage,” how to use the word correctly in your conversations and writings, and everything about the word you might want to know. At the end of this article, you should be an expert when using the word “homage.” Let’s dive in!

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What Is the Definition of Homage?

By definition, homage is an illustration of respect or honor. The word is also defined as any object given or done to show respect or reverence. For instance, use the word when referring to important people in society, such as leaders or individuals who have achieved incredible feats.

For example, in the sentence, ‘The people paid homage to their king through gifts.’ We can tell that the people held their king in high esteem and were willing to show this through giving gifts.

The word “homage” can also show respect and admiration to deities. This is common with people who practice religious activities. For instance, people who practice the Hindu faith burn incense to pay homage to their god.

Homage can also be used to show respect to someone who has died. For instance, when we say a person was “paid homage to” after his death, we mean that people who held him in high regard demonstrated this through specific actions to show some respect.

What is the Difference between Homage and Tribute?

Both “homage” and “tribute” may have almost similar meanings; however, these words tend to vary. Homage means showing respect, honor, or admiration towards another person, while tribute implies an acceptance of gratitude accompanied by a gift.

The difference between these words is that homage can be paid verbally or using an object; a tribute shows appreciation using a gift. Note that both can be paid to someone who has died.

Historically, a tribute was material possessions paid to a king who had conquered a place. But for homage, the meaning hasn’t changed over the years. It is an act of respect or a way to show allegiance to your leader either verbally or through gifts.

What Is the Meaning of Homage?

The word “homage” also means congratulating someone publicly. While the word has various related meanings, all of them narrow down to the display of great respect or honor to someone.

For instance, homage is used when showing respect and loyalty to a person about to retire. A good example is a retirement party to pay homage to an individual retiring from the company. Just like you can use the word to refer to the activities undertaken by people showing loyalty to their leader, the same can apply in this case.

Homage is also used when creating something to honor an individual. For instance, people may erect a statue of someone they respect or call a street or institution after them. Whichever the situation, we can see that the overall meaning of the word homage has to do with showing someone valued respect.

Homage Used in Different Contexts

You can use the word homage anywhere. However, in some instances, the word is quite frequent. Let’s look at the usage in leadership, religion, and art.

In leadership, the word illustrates people’s respect and admiration for their leaders. This applies to leadership at all levels.

The word is used to give or show great respect and swear loyalty to a deity in religion. This can be thorough words or through action. For instance, a person can pay homage to god by wearing a turban.

In art, the word shows respect, especially if you’ve mimicked a person’s style into your creation. This mainly applies to drawings, music, or literature. For instance, when we say a particular song is an homage to Celine Dion, the artist has drawn comparisons from Celine Dion.

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How to Use Homage in a Sentence?

The word “homage” is used in sentences as a noun to show respect through action. Despite the word homage having different meanings that are closely related, we can still use the word in various situations.

Note that there are different versions in which the term “homage” can be used. The most used version is its noun form that refers to reverence or respect given or paid. When used as ‘homaging,’ it is still a noun describing the action of paying homage.

The word can also be used in the past tense. But in this case, it means showing respect to someone but in the past. For example, when we say, “They homaged their jewels,” it means that the action took place in the past.

The best way to show the phrase homage is through sentences. Here are some examples of sentences that have incorporated the term “homage:”

  • It’s normal to see people shave part of their hair once a year as homage to their ancestors.
  • Mansa Musa was such an influential figure that Spanish travelers had maps with his picture as an homage to him.
  • The president finally paid homage to his deputy, acknowledging his efforts in maintaining peace.
  • Alex’s painting was a nice homage to his art teacher and mentor.
  • Once one of the toughest prisons in the world, the movie pays due homage to its horrifying nature.

Examples of Homage in a Sentence

The following ten sentences are meant to show you how to use the word “homage” correctly. We’ve used different meanings and versions of the word to illustrate the various interesting scenarios.

  1. I love the way different singers paid homage to Whitney Houston in the recently concluded American Music Awards.
  2. Some people refused to pay homage to the dictator, and they were punished for their disobedience.
  3. Scottie Pippen paid homage to Michael Jordan when he was inducted to the basketball hall of fame last year, referring to him as a terrific teammate and a great friend.
  4. A mafia museum pays homage to some of the biggest mafia bosses in America’s history.
  5. The leader refused any homage to him by saying he was only doing what was best for the country.
  6. Despite their quirky sense of humor, the TV show Family Guy writers do homage to great movies and shows that aired in the 80s.
  7. When Kobe Bryant and Gigi died, thousands of Laker fans streamed to the burial to pay homage to the fallen basketball legend.
  8. No wonder she loves that necklace Ben gave her; it is an homage to his heart.
  9. ‘Kill us if you must, but we will not do homage to any pagan deity.’ Darius shouted.
  10. Songs of praise and homage were made to Ramesses the Great.

How Do You Spell Homage?

The term homage is a six-letter English word that is spelled as h-o-m-a-g-e. It is also spelled as [hˈɒmɪd‍ʒ] by the International Phonetic Alphabet. 

How Do You Pronounce Homage?

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the American pronunciation of the word “homage” is (aa-muhj), while the British pronunciation of the same word is (ho-muhj). 

Like many other English words, “homage” pronunciation tends to vary based on your accent. It is important to note that the ‘h’ is silent; however, in both British and American pronunciations, the ‘e’ at the end of the word is silent.

How Many Syllables Are In Homage?

The word “homage” has two syllables, ho-mage.

Synonyms Of The Word “Homage”

  • Adulation
  • Duty
  • Deference
  • Loyalty
  • Reverence
  • Tribute
  • Adoration
  • Honor

Antonyms Of The Word “Homage”

  • Disloyalty
  • Dishonor
  • Scorn
  • Censure
  • Condemnation
  • Inconstancy
  • Disrespect
  • Degrade

History & Etymology of Homage

The history of the word “homage” dates back to the 14th century from an old French word, omage, which meant an allegiance or great respect to one’s feudal lord. 

The word also stems from the Latin word “homme” or “homo,” which means reverence or honor. From its parent words, we can see that the word homage still referred to a state of great respect to another, a meaning associated with the term today.

When Was Homage First Used?

The term’s first recorded use was back in the 14th century. 

Conclusion

In a continuously evolving world, the mastery of the English language has proven vital in our writings. Knowing how to use this word also makes your daily conversations easy. We hope that our article on the homage definition, meaning, and usage has been beneficial to you.

Suppose you want to use the word homage and you feel the need for more clarification, look back at our sentence examples to have an idea of what you need. More so, continue practicing using the word “homage” in your speech. We also recommend further reading or listening to various instructors.