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 of honorary

• commemorative
• commemorating
• memorial

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

On Thursday evening, at the NYCB Spring Gala, Hamrick was an event chair, with Jagger taking on the role of honorary chair. —Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 8 May 2026

The eponymous award honors aerospace pioneer and Purdue graduate Neil Armstrong (BS aeronautical engineering ’55, honorary doctorate ’70). —Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026

Barbra Streisand and Peter Jackson are this year’s honorary guests and will receive career Palme d’Ors. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 8 May 2026

Sue Hendrickson — who did not have a high school diploma — received her first university credentials in the form of an honorary doctorate of humane letters from the University of Illinois Chicago. —Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2026

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
• apiary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• bacillary
• beriberi
• bestiary
• breviary
• budgetary

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