honorary

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English

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Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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From honor +‎ -ary, modelled after French honoraire, from Latin honōrārius.

Adjective

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honorary (not comparable)

  1. Given as an honor/honour, with no duties attached, and without payment.
    honorary degree; honorary citizen
  2. Voluntary.
  3. 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
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Translations
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Noun

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honorary (plural honoraries)

  1. A person who holds an honorary appointment.
  2. (US) A kind of secret society that operates in name only, with membership given to honor some achievement.

Etymology 2

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From Latin honōrārium.[1]

Noun

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honorary (plural honoraries)

  1. An honorarium; a fee for services of no fixed value.

References

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  1. ^ James A. H. Murray [et al.], editors (1884–1928), “Honorary”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume V (H–K), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 367, column 1.