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honorific

honorific

2 7.9
A title or form of address that shows respect
  • noun
  • /ˌɑːnəˈrɪfɪk/
  • Formal
translation icon : título honorífico
  • He earned the honorific of 'Dr.' after completing his medical degree.
  • bestow the honorific
  • use of the honorific
  • give him the honorific

Examples

  • The poet John Skelton was granted his honorific by Cambridge in 1493, the first on record for the upstart in the Fens.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Christians would, I think, have to find some respectful way to avoid using that honorific because using it involves promoting a lie.

    Blog text (5)
  • Christians would have to find some polite way to avoid using that honorific, I think.

    Blog text (5)
  • Seriously, they know every ritual, every honorific; it's insane.

    Blog text (1)
  • Second, that general had to be acclaimed imperator by his soldiers, which was just an honorific title that means one who commands.

  • I understand the use of honorific titles and understand "the Prophet" as such, but the use of this honorific by Christian bishops gives far too much away.

    Blog text (5)
  • Lily smiled slightly at the Ridani honorific.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The name is a double honorific, acknowledging two of his brothers (or perhaps his father) and an enduring affection for and preservation of the memory of the family with whom he had grown to adulthood.

    Academic text (2011)
  • When the Reverend Curtis Lee Laws invented the term "fundamentalist" in 1920, it was taken up as an honorific by his Baptist and Presbyterian colleagues, who swore to do "battle royal for the fundamentals of the faith." (n3)

    Academic text (1991)
  • In many cultures, using an honorific title shows respect for elders.

Synonyms

sir
vshonorific
  • Formal
1.0

A respectful way to speak to an adult man you do not know

is the general term for words that show respect or high status
title
vshonorific
513 2.1

A name that shows a person's rank, job or honor

focuses specifically on respectful address rather than general status labeling
majesty
vshonorific
  • Formal
430 3.9

A title used to address a king or queen

is the general term for respectful words beyond royal address
madam
vshonorific
  • Formal
360 3.2

A polite way to address a woman in a position of authority

is the broad category covering respectful words for any gender
Highness
vshonorific
  • Formal
274 8.2

A title used with Your, His, or Her to address a royal person such as a prince

is the broader category for words showing respect, not only royal use
Monsieur
vshonorific
  • Formal
196 7.8

A French title of respect for a man, like Mr in English

is the general term for words that show respect across languages
sire
vshonorific
  • Archaic
126 9.9

A respectful title used when speaking to a king

is the general respectful term used today for many ranks, not only archaic use
Herr
vshonorific
  • Formal
85 8.1

A German title of respect used before a man's name, like Mr

is the general term for respectful words used in many languages
Excellency
vshonorific
  • Formal
75 8.9

A title used when speaking to or about ambassadors, governors and similar officials

is the general term for respectful words not limited to top officials
Lordship
vshonorific
  • UK
58 9.0

A polite title used to address certain British judges, bishops, or peers

is the broader category for respect titles not limited to peerage or office
senor
vshonorific
51 6.9

A Spanish title used before a man's name to show respect, like Mr

is the broad label for respectful forms rather than a language instance
señor
vshonorific
41 6.3

A polite word used before a man's name, like Mr

is the general term for words showing respect or rank across languages
esquire
vshonorific
  • Formal
20 9.9

A title placed after a name to show respect, often used by lawyers

is the general category for respectful words regardless of placement
Ladyship
vshonorific
  • UK
20 9.6

A polite title for a woman of noble rank like a countess

is the general term for respectful words used across genders and ranks
signor
vshonorific
18 6.9

A polite title used before an Italian man's name

is the general category covering words that express respect or status
signore
vshonorific
11 9.4

A polite Italian word to call a man, like sir

is the general word for respectful address rather than a national example
hon
vshonorific
  • Formal
9 8.3

A written title placed before the name of certain public officials

is the full general term for words showing respect rather than abbreviated forms
form of address
vshonorific
1 3.4

A way of speaking used when you talk to someone to show their title or relationship

focuses more on showing respect or high status than relationship
title of respect
vshonorific
3.2

A word like Mr or Doctor that people use with a name to show respect

is a single-word formal term for the same concept
Mr.
vshonorific
  • Formal
1.0

A polite title used before a man's name

is the general word covering many respectful forms
sarkar
vshonorific
  • Indian
9.9

A respectful word used to address someone in authority

is the broad category for words or phrases that show respect
maître
vshonorific
  • Formal
9.9

A title used before the name of a lawyer or notary in French

is the general term for respectful titles not limited to legal roles

How Respectful

Excellency
  • Formal
75 8.9
majesty
  • Formal
430 3.9
honorific
  • Formal
2 7.9
Dr.
  • Formal
1.0
Mr
  • UK
1.0
first name
178 1.0

Surface Forms

honorific singular
honorifics plural

Etymology

Honorific comes from honor 'respect' plus -ific 'making', so an honorific is literally a 'respect-making' word or title. That's why words like 'Doctor' or Japanese 'san' are called honorifics, because they show respect or high status.