A posthumous recognition is a ceremonial award given after the recipient has passed away. Some awards are given only upon or after death of the recipient, and thus are said to be by definition a posthumous recognition. However, most awards are normally given while the recipient is alive, and in the case in which it is given after death, the recipient is referred to as being "awarded posthumously."

Examples

• As part of the criteria for bestowing the US Medal of Honor, the recipient must have made great self-sacrifice in an act of extraordinary bravery. Death is such a qualifying act of self-sacrifice, and some recipients of the Medal of Honor are thus awarded it posthumously.
• The Darwin Award is under normal circumstances given as a posthumous recognition, part of the criteria for receiving the award being that the recipient must have committed an act which led to his or her own unintended demise. (The award is facetious in nature.)