“Constellation prize” or “consolation prize”: which is correct?

Why people get it wrong

People make this error because the word constellation sounds similar to the correct word consolation, leading to confusion. Such errors are common as they rely on phonetic similarity and are often used in speech.

What kind of mistake it is

This is a malapropism, where a similar-sounding incorrect word or phrase is used instead of the correct one.

Examples with consolation prize

• She won a consolation prize for finishing in third place.
• Even though he didn’t win the tournament, the committee awarded him a consolation prize.
• The contestant received a consolation prize, which helped soften the disappointment of not winning.