courtesy title

American  

noun

1. a title applied or assumed through custom, courtesy, or association and without regard for its being officially merited.

2. a title allowed by custom, as to the children of dukes.

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courtesy title British  

noun

1. any of several titles having no legal significance, such as those borne by the children of peers

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Etymology

Origin of courtesy title

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

The papers all ran well-sourced articles claiming it was a courtesy title with no real significance.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2023

Mr. Jordan asked whether the chief justice had used the courtesy title.

From Washington Times • Dec. 8, 2022

“They were the reject diamonds back in the day,” said Devine, founder of Lolide, who uses the gender-neutral courtesy title Mx.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 2, 2022

“I didn’t want to go to couples therapy because there wasn’t a problem” with our relationship, said Carly Wright, who uses a gender-neutral courtesy title.

From New York Times • Mar. 10, 2022

No trains went there—Maycomb Junction, a courtesy title, was located in Abbott County, twenty miles away.

From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee