honorary
Americanadjective
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given for honor only, without the usual requirements, duties, privileges, emoluments, etc..
The university presented the new governor with an honorary degree.
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holding a title or position conferred for honor only.
an honorary president.
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(of an obligation) depending on one's honor for fulfillment.
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conferring or commemorating honor or distinction.
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given, made, or serving as a token of honor.
an honorary gift.
adjective
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(esp of a position, title, etc) held or given only as an honour, without the normal privileges or duties
an honorary degree
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(of a secretary, treasurer, etc) unpaid
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having such a position or title
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depending on honour rather than legal agreement
Other Word Forms
- honorarily adverb
Etymology
Origin of honorary
First recorded in 1605–15, honorary is from the Latin word honōrārius relating to honor. See honor, -ary
Explanation
Honorary titles or awards are given to people out of respect. There's a big difference between a regular Ph.D. and an honorary Ph.D. To get the regular one, you have to go to school for many years. On the other hand, an honorary Ph.D. is given to a respected or beloved person who didn’t go through the program. An honorary position in a government may sound fancy, but it carries no power or responsibilities (and is usually unpaid). In many ways, it’s not a real position. Honorary things are just titles.
Vocabulary lists containing honorary
Born a Crime
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Academy Awards, List 2
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The Darkest Minds
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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.
Allan won eight Emmy Awards, five Bafta's and was made an honorary fellow of the Royal Photographic Society throughout his career.
From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026
The motion to remove Mountbatten-Windsor's honorary Freedom three years ago was carried unanimously at a full council meeting.
From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026
Then came a shift in 2016, when the Academy gave an honorary Oscar to Lynn Stalmaster, who cast hundreds of films and jump-started the careers of Dustin Hoffman, Jeff Bridges, John Travolta and Christopher Reeve.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026
If that’s the case, it feels like it’s time to give the great Fisk an honorary Oscar at the next Governors Awards.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026
Comptons guests had come to the city to receive honorary doctorates from the University of Chicago.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
