honorary
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Pronunciation edit
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈɑn.əˌrɛr.i/, enPR: ŏnʹə-rĕr'ē
Audio (Southern England) (file)
Etymology 1 edit
From honor + -ary, modelled after French honoraire, from Latin honōrārius.
Adjective edit
honorary (not comparable)
- Given as an honor/honour, with no duties attached, and without payment.
- honorary degree; honorary citizen
- Voluntary.
- Unofficial; practically. Describes the holder of an unofficial position or title that is assigned as a special honor rather than by normal channels.
- Megsie is an honorary employee because she helps other customers while she shops here.
- I consider you an honorary member of our family because you've been with us for so long.
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
given as an honor
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voluntary — see also voluntary
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describes the holder of a position
Noun edit
honorary (plural honoraries)
- A person who holds an honorary appointment.
- (US) A kind of secret society that operates in name only, with membership given to honor some achievement.
Etymology 2 edit
From Latin honōrārium.[1]
Noun edit
honorary (plural honoraries)
- An honorarium; a fee for services of no fixed value.
References edit
- ^ James A. H. Murray [et al.], editors (1884–1928), “Honorary”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volumes V (H–K), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 367, column 1.