honor society

American  

noun

1. (in a college, university, or secondary school) a student society that admits members on the basis of academic merit and, sometimes, worthwhile contributions in extracurricular activities.

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Etymology

Origin of honor society

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

A member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society, she graduated from New York University in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism before deciding on a law career.

From New York Times • May 16, 2023

Frazer’s teams, from an otherwise average school, have won 13 of the last 14 national math competitions sponsored by Mu Alpha Theta, the honor society for mathematics students.

From Washington Post • Jul. 19, 2022

To discourage grind culture, they don't rank students or allow honor society sashes at graduation.

From Salon • May 1, 2022

It’s also helped him find his passions through a campus computer science honor society and “Bruins Opposing Speciesism,” an animal advocacy organization.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2022

He was active in the honor society and the school’s Hi-Y chapter.

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