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honor roll

American  

noun

  1. a list of students who have earned grades above a specific average during a semester or school year.

  2. a list of names, usually on a plaque in a public place, of local citizens who have served or died in the armed services.


Etymology

Origin of honor roll

First recorded in 1905–10

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.

Academically, I was on the honor roll and in all the AP classes, and I was a cheerleader.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026

Not long ago, I learned that my former student, now in high school, had made the honor roll.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 24, 2025

Orange County dominated the top 10 list of Heal the Bay’s honor roll for the second straight year.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2025

His family described him as an honor roll student who was preparing to apply to several universities to study electrical engineering.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 11, 2024

He was class treasurer, an assistant librarian, a member of the radio club, and he appeared on the honor roll every year that he attended the school.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown