honorary

adjective

hon·​or·​ary ˈä-nə-ˌrer-ē 

1

a

: having or conferring distinction

an honorary engineering society

b

: commemorative

an honorary plaque

2

: dependent on honor or a keen sense of ethical conduct for fulfillment

an honorary obligation

3

a

: conferred or elected in recognition of achievement or service without the usual prerequisites or obligations

an honorary degree

an honorary member

b

: unpaid, voluntary

an honorary chairman

honorarily

ˌä-nə-ˈrer-ə-lē 

adverb

honorary noun

Synonyms

• commemorating
• commemorative
• memorial
• memorializing

Examples of honorary in a Sentence

He was awarded an honorary degree.

He's an honorary member of the club.

He is the honorary president of the commission.

Recent Examples on the Web

He was awarded an honorary Oscar in 2018 at the Academy's Governors Awards Gala. —Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 27 June 2025

In November 2018, Schifrin became only the third composer in the history of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences to receive an honorary Oscar. —Jon Burlingame, Variety, 26 June 2025

Schifrin, who received an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards in November 2018, died of pneumonia at a hospital in Los Angeles, his son Ryan Schifrin told The Hollywood Reporter. —Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 26 June 2025

Mexican media accounts have described Romo as the honorary president and co-founder of Vector. —Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin honorarius, from honor

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing honorary

• honorary degree

Rhymes for honorary

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• beriberi
• breviary
• budgetary
• capillary
• catenary
• cautionary

Kids Definition

honorary

adjective

hon·​or·​ary ˈän-ə-ˌrer-ē 

1

: given or done as a sign of honor

an honorary degree

2

: voluntary entry 1 sense 1, unpaid

honorary president

honorarily

ˌän-ə-ˈrer-ə-lē 

adverb