adj · noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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General-American:/ˈɑn.əˌɹɛɹ.i/
General-American:ŏnʹə-rĕr'ē
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:AA1 N ER0 EH2 R IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Given as an honor, with no duties attached, and without payment.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
honorary degree; honorary citizen
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Voluntary.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Unofficial; practically. Describes the holder of an unofficial position or title that is assigned as a special honor rather than by normal channels.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
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.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A person who holds an honorary appointment.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
A kind of secret society that operates in name only, with membership given to honor some achievement.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
An honorarium; a fee for services of no fixed value.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
adjective satellite
Meaning 7
given as an honor without the normal duties
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
an honorary degree
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From honor + -ary, modelled after French honoraire, from Latin honōrārius.
From Latin honōrārium.
Across languages
Translations
39 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
فَخْرِيّ
(faḵriyy)
— given as an honor
Armenian:
պատվաբեր
(patvaber)
— given as an honor
Azerbaijani:
fəxri
— given as an honor
Bulgarian:
почетен
(početen)
— given as an honor
Catalan:
honorari
— given as an honor
Czech:
čestný
— given as an honor
Finnish:
kunnia-
— given as an honor
French:
honoris causa
— given as an honor
German:
Ehren-
— given as an honor
Hindi:
आनरेरी
(ānrerī)
— given as an honor
Hindi:
अवैतनिक
(avaitnik)
— given as an honor
Hungarian:
címzetes
— given as an honor
Hungarian:
honoris causa
— given as an honor
Indonesian:
honorer
— given as an honor
Italian:
onorativo
— given as an honor
Latin:
honōrārius
— given as an honor
Macedonian:
почесен
(počesen)
— given as an honor
Malay:
kehormat
— given as an honor
Polish:
honorowy
— given as an honor
Polish:
nominalny
— given as an honor
Polish:
tytularny
— given as an honor
Portuguese:
honorário
— given as an honor
Russian:
почётный
(počótnyj)
— given as an honor
Spanish:
honorario
— given as an honor
Swedish:
heders-
— given as an honor
Turkish:
fahri
— given as an honor
Ukrainian:
поче́сний
(počésnyj)
— given as an honor
Uzbek:
faxriy
— given as an honor
German:
Ehren-
— voluntary — see also voluntary
German:
ehrenamtlich
— voluntary — see also voluntary
Catalan:
honorari
— describes the holder of a position
Finnish:
kunnia-
— describes the holder of a position
German:
Ehren-
— describes the holder of a position
Hindi:
आनरेरी
(ānrerī)
— describes the holder of a position
Hindi:
अवैतनिक
(avaitnik)
— describes the holder of a position
Hungarian:
tiszteletbeli
— describes the holder of a position
Hungarian:
dísz-
— describes the holder of a position
Norwegian Bokmål:
honorær
— describes the holder of a position
Norwegian Nynorsk:
honorær
— describes the holder of a position
