honorary

adjective hon·or·ary \ ˈä-nə-ˌrer-ē \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Examples: honorary in a Sentence

Definition of honorary

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

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honorarily

play \ˌä-nə-ˈrer-ə-lē\ adverb

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honorary

noun

See honorary defined for English-language learners

See honorary defined for kids

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 of honorary from the Web

In addition to serving as honorary ringmaster during one UniverSoul Circus performance in Houston, Prestage was also inspired to donate tickets for 50 Boys and Girls Club kids.

— kristi nix, Houston Chronicle, "UniverSoul Circus sneak peek performance thrills Fort Bend County kids," 11 June 2018
His accolade to come once inside is all sewn up as an honorary tribute.

— Fox News, "The Latest: Glenda Jackson wins best actress in a play Tony," 10 June 2018
Prince Charles has racked up many honorary military appointments over the years, and he's previously worn the uniform reflecting his role as Colonel of the Welsh Guards.

— caroline picard, Good Housekeeping, "Why Prince William Didn't Sit With Kate Middleton During Trooping the Colour," 10 June 2018
Epic Records president Sylvia Rhone will serve as honorary chairperson for the awards gala.

— gail mitchell, Billboard, "Epic's Sylvia Rhone, Roc Nation's Azim Rashid to Chair Living Legends Awards Gala," 7 June 2018
General John Pershing, the American commander in France named Janis an honorary general and gave her a Cadillac with an AEF Headquarters logo.

— erick trickey, Smithsonian, "The Sweetheart of the American Expeditionary Force," 6 June 2018
Day Kimball Healthcare Walk & Race committee has selected a local resident whose story embodies the fight against cancer and the importance of supporting local, high-quality cancer care, to serve as the event's honorary ambassador.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Putnam-Killingly Edition," 5 June 2018
The post showed pictures of an honorary high school diploma, the name Nicholas Robert Coats written across it.

— bob warren, NOLA.com, "This Slidell twin died awaiting a transplant. Now his mother is realizing his one dream: a diploma," 5 June 2018
The Finance Ministry has acknowledged tampering on hundreds of pages of documents the 2015 land sale to a school where Akie Abe briefly held an honorary position.

— Washington Post, "Japan finance minister takes pay cut, officials punished," 5 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'honorary.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of honorary

Latin honorarius, from honor

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1606

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

honorary Synonyms

Synonyms

commemorating, commemorative, memorial, memorializing;

Related Words

dedicatory, testimonial;

canonizing, enshrining, exalting, glorifying;

HONORARY Defined for English Language Learners

honorary

adjective

Definition of honorary for English Language Learners

: given as a sign of honor or achievement
: regarded as one of a group although not officially elected or included
: holding a position for which no payment is given : not paid

HONORARY Defined for Kids

honorary

adjective hon·or·ary \ ˈä-nə-ˌrer-ē \

Definition of honorary for Students

: given or done as an honor

They made him an honorary member of the club.

Learn More about honorary

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for honorary Spanish Central: Translation of honorary Nglish: Translation of honorary for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of honorary for Arabic speakers

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honorary

Definition of honorary

honorarily

honorary

Examples of honorary in a Sentence

Recent Examples of honorary from the Web

Origin and Etymology of honorary

honorary Synonyms

Synonyms

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HONORARY Defined for English Language Learners

honorary

Definition of honorary for English Language Learners

HONORARY Defined for Kids

honorary

Definition of honorary for Students

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