emeritus

[ ih-mer-i-tuhs ]

adjective

1. retired or honorably discharged from active professional duty, but retaining the title of one's office or position:

   dean emeritus of the graduate school;

   editor in chief emeritus.

noun

, plural e·mer·i·ti [ih-, mer, -i-tahy, -tee].

1. an emeritus professor, minister, etc.

emeritus

/ ɪˈmɛrɪtəs /

adjective

1. usually postpositive retired or honourably discharged from full-time work, but retaining one's title on an honorary basis

   a professor emeritus

Word History and Origins

Origin of emeritus¹

First recorded in 1785–95; from Latin ēmeritus “fully earned,” past participle of ēmerēre “to fully earn,” from ē- e- ¹ + merēre “to earn”; merit

Word History and Origins

Origin of emeritus¹

C19: from Latin, from merēre to deserve; see merit

Example Sentences

He also noted that “Pope Emeritus is notably not a big sports fan.”

From The Daily Beast

We need to look at Benedict XVI as an institution, he opened a door, that of the popes emeritus.

From The Daily Beast

He is professor emeritus at Chicago, and there is a scholarship in his name, set up by some of his former students.

From The Daily Beast

He served for several years as chairman of DLA Piper, now chairman emeritus.

From The Daily Beast

SENATOR GEORGE J. MITCHELLCHAIRMAN EMERITUS, DLA PIPER Senator George Mitchell has had a long and distinguished career.

From The Daily Beast

Of this Faculty he became Dean, and held office until close upon the time when he became Emeritus.

From Project Gutenberg

Upon retiring from the board of regents, he was made professor emeritus of medicine.

From Project Gutenberg

If it will comfort you in the least, make me your Pastor Emeritus, nominally.

From Project Gutenberg

He became professor emeritus in 1887, and established a private laboratory at Newport, where he has continued his researches.

From Project Gutenberg

From 1869 until 1894, when he resigned and became professor emeritus, he was Pope Professor of Latin in the same institution.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• elderly
• resigned