Phi Beta Kappa
Americannoun
-
a national honor society, founded in 1776, whose members are chosen, for lifetime membership, usually from among college undergraduates of high academic distinction.
-
a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
noun
-
a national honorary society, founded in 1776, membership of which is based on high academic ability
-
a member of this society
Etymology
Origin of Phi Beta Kappa
from the initials of the Greek motto philosophia biou kubernētēs philosophy the guide of life
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She enrolled in classes at Emory at 16 and then transferred to Barnard where she majored in creative writing, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 31, 2026
He grew up here, was valedictorian at Jefferson High School and a Phi Beta Kappa political science student at UCLA.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 6, 2023
He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and the Academy of Arts and Letters and served as president of the International Parliament of Writers.
From New York Times • Jan. 8, 2023
At Columbia University, from which he graduated in 1958, he edited the campus newspaper and was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa honor society.
From Washington Post • Mar. 16, 2022
He was a former chemist who was never seen without his shining Phi Beta Kappa key.
From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
