noun
distinguished service; meritorious service
Formal noun for outstanding contributions, often in military or public service contexts.
彼は戦場での勲により勲章を授与された。
He was awarded a medal for his distinguished service on the battlefield.
功績 is a more common and general term for achievements or contributions, while 勲 is a formal, somewhat literary word specifically for meritorious service, often with a military or official connotation.
The kanji 勲 and 功 both relate to merit or achievement. The reading いさお is of native Japanese origin, but its exact derivation is uncertain.