An honorary title or membership of a group is given to someone without their needing to have the necessary qualifications, usually because of their public achievements.
He will be awarded the honorary degree in a ceremony at Newcastle University.
...an honorary member of the Golf Club.
Synonyms: nominal, unofficial, titular, ex officio More Synonyms of honorary
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Honorary is used to describe an official job that is done without payment.
...the honorary secretary of the Cheshire Beekeepers' Association.
honorary in British English
(ˈɒnərərɪ, ˈɒnrərɪ)
adjective(usually prenominal)
1.
a.
(esp of a position, title, etc) held or given only as an honour, without the normal privileges or duties
an honorary degree
b.
(of a secretary, treasurer, etc) unpaid
2.
having such a position or title
3.
depending on honour rather than legal agreement
honorary in American English
(ˈɑnəˌrɛri)
adjective
1.
given as an honor only, without the usual requirements or privileges
an honorary degree
2.
a.
designating an office or position held as an honor only, without service or pay
b.
holding such a position or office
c.
recognizing academic distinction or accomplishment
an honorary society
3.
depending on one's honor; that cannot be legally enforced or collected
said of debts, etc.
Derived forms
honorarily (ˌhonorˈarily)
adverb
Word origin
L honorarius, of or conferring honor
Examples of 'honorary' in a sentence
honorary
He is now an honorary member of our company.
The Sun (2011)
He received dozens of honorary degrees and awards.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Your much loved dog, a treasured pet and honorary member of the family dies.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Without formal university education, he has received numerous awards and honorary degrees.
Christianity Today (2000)
The actor was knighted earlier this year for public and political service - adding to his honorary degrees.
The Sun (2013)
This is my 10th honorary degree.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Like all Tory leaders, she was made an honorary member.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He was proud to be listed as one of the Abbey's honorary life members.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He can be an honorary member,' she said.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But he hopes to become an honorary member of the elite US space programme after returning from Afghanistan next year.
The Sun (2011)
Over the years he received a number of honorary degrees and was awarded the four highest civilian awards that the Indian Government has at its disposal.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He railed against cuts to science funding and returned the honorary degrees awarded by the universities of Hertfordshire and Exeter because they closed their chemistry departments.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
So I'm an honorary member.
The Sun (2007)
In other languages
honorary
British English: honorary ADJECTIVE
An honorary title or membership of a group is given to someone without their needing to have the necessary qualifications, usually because of their public achievements.
The university awarded him an honorary degree.
American English: honorary
Brazilian Portuguese: honorário
Chinese: > 作为荣誉的称号或成员资格
European Spanish: honorífico
French: honorifique
German: Ehren-
Italian: onorario
Japanese: 名誉上の
Korean: 명예의
European Portuguese: honorário
Latin American Spanish: honorífico
Chinese translation of 'honorary'
honorary
(ˈɔnərərɪ)
adj
[job, secretary]名誉(譽)的 (míngyù de)
[title, degree]荣誉(譽)的 (róngyù de)
(adjective)
Definition
held or given as a mark of respect, without the usual qualifications, payment, or work
an honorary member of the Golf Club
Synonyms
nominal
As he was still not allowed to run a company, his wife became its nominal head.
unofficial
titular
He is titular head, and merely signs laws occasionally.
ex officio
honoris causa (Latin)
in name or title only
Additional synonyms
in the sense of titular
Definition
in name only
He is titular head, and merely signs laws occasionally.