Some trophies seen in the London Irish clubhouse at Sunbury in 2002. The one in the centre is the Powergen Cup.

A trophy is the reward for a specific accomplishment. They are most often awarded with sporting events. These range from youth sports through professional level athletics. Often, the reward of the trophy is not simply in winning it; rather, those who win it cherish the legacy that also comes with the trophy.

Some sporting trophies include:

• America's Cup (yacht racing)
• Heisman Trophy (NCAA American football)
• Stanley Cup (NHL hockey)
• World Series Trophy (MLB baseball)

The United States military also issues a type of trophy which are known as "non-portable decorations". This indicates that the trophy carries the status of a military award, but is not meant to be worn on a uniform but rather is presented for static display. Such military trophies include athletic excellence awards, unit excellence awards, and superior service awards presented annually to the top service member of a command.

In hunting, trophies like those mentioned above can be awarded, although a class of trophies specific to hunting also exists. These trophies are obtained from the bodies of game animals. Often the heads or entire bodies are processed by a taxidermist, although sometimes other body parts such as teeth or horns are used as the trophies. Hunting for the singular purpose of obtaining trophies is often considered improper today. Such trophies have also been produced from humans in cultures that accept cannibalism or when two societies clash in war. Again, this is not acceptable in modern times, and generally goes against the rules of war.