noun
recipient of a decoration; recipient of an order of merit
Formal term for a person who has received a medal, order, or decoration, typically in an official or ceremonial context.
彼は長年の功績により受勲者となった。
He became a recipient of a decoration for his many years of service.
勲章 is the medal or order itself, whereas 受勲者 is the recipient of such an honor.
Compound of 受 (receive) + 勲 (merit, decoration) + 者 (person). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term follows standard Sino-Japanese word formation.