emerita

American  

[ih-mer-i-tuh] / ɪˈmɛr ɪ tə /

adjective

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

   Kate Johnson, Professor Emerita of Music.

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noun

emeritae plural

1. a woman with such status.

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• emeritae
  plural

Etymology

Origin of emerita

< Latin, feminine of ēmeritus emeritus

Compare meaning

How does emerita compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• emerita vs. emeritus

Example Sentences

Emperess Emerita Michiko, Naruhito's mother, also suffered stress-induced illnesses.

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who worked closely with Newsom to secure funding for the Prop 50 campaign in California, said she expects some Republicans may actually be relieved.

From Salon • Nov. 19, 2025

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi announced she will not seek re-election at the end of her current term in 2027, ending a nearly 40-year career in Congress — and welcoming a potentially robust retirement package, too.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 6, 2025

Walz said House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, and her husband were killed.

From BBC • Jun. 14, 2025

“Firewood!” she yelled out to a neighbor, Angela Emerita Nunez, offering to get some for her.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario

Related Words

• elderly
• resigned