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Showing results for honorary degree. Search instead for Honours+Degree.

honorary degree

American  
[ahn-uh-rer-ee-di-gree] / ˈɑn əˌrɛr i dɪˈgri /

noun

  • honorary degrees
    plural
  1. an academic degree, conferred by a university or similar institution in recognition of a person's contributions to and achievements within a specific area, rather than in recognition of appropriate study or research.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


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.

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Farmer and entrepreneur Olly Harrison is receiving an honorary degree for his popular YouTube channel that gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of farming.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026

Mr. Kidd describes this as “a spectacular breach of conventional academic protocol,” especially as the dons conferred unopposed—on the same day—an honorary degree on Alessandro Pertini, the 88-year-old Italian president.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026

The dons got a measure of meretricious revenge on Thatcher in 1985 when Oxford voted to deny her an honorary degree.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026

The university’s granting of an honorary degree to the Dalai Lama the year before.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2025

Her old college, Hillsdale, wanted to award her an honorary degree.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

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