Meaning & use
honorific
Last updated
A title or word expressing respect or courtesy, typically used before a person's name.
See it in a sentence
In formal letters, she always addresses the judge using the honorific "Your Honor."
"Doctor" and "Professor" are honorifics that signal a person's academic or professional standing.
A note on using this word
The word can also function as an adjective, as in "an honorific title," and many languages, such as Japanese and Korean, build honorifics directly into their grammar.
Words with a similar meaning
titlecourtesy title
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. adjective
Conferring or showing honor or respect.
The mayor received an honorific award for decades of public service.
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