A Medal is a decoration awarded for service to a country, usually military service.

Traditionally, a medal is a metal shape (usuall a disk) suspended by a strip of ribbon or fabric. Medals are traditionally worn on the left side of one's shirt or jacket, normally on formal white tie occasions. There are also medals that are worn around the neck.

In the military, medals are worn on uniforms on formal occasions. In day to day wear, they are represented in the form of thin fabric bars on the left side of the uniform.