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

Cruise, a three-time Oscar nominee and a 2025 recipient of an honorary Oscar, has, over the course of a 45-year career, starred in films that have collectively grossed nearly $13 billion worldwide. — Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026

Angiolini had been honorary president of Camera Buyer Italia, the country’s retailers’ association, between 2014 and 2018, and its president between 2008 and 2014. — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2026

On Saturday, there will be an honorary renaming of three blocks of Broadway as Black Panther Party Boulevard, a designation voted unanimously by the Oakland City Council last month. — CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

He’s also listed as honorary chair of the museum’s Red Ball fundraiser, scheduled for Saturday. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 16 Oct. 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