emeritus
emeritus — adjective
- emerituspositive
- more emerituscomparative
- most emeritussuperlative
1. describes someone who has stopped working but still keeps the title of their for
describes someone who has stopped working but still keeps the title of their former position as a special honour; most often applies to university professors, deans, or other academic staff, though also used in religious and professional contexts.
Professor Nakamura became professor emeritus after forty years of teaching at the university.
noun + emeritus pattern
The library named a new reading room after its director emeritus, Dr. Chin.
title + emeritus after the noun
Many emeritus professors still supervise graduate students and publish research papers.
emeritus + noun before the title
The chemistry department awarded Dr. Lee the title of professor emeritus after her thirty-year career.
- professor emeritus
- dean emeritus
- director emeritus
- pastor emeritus
- emeritus faculty
Grammar Patterns
noun + emeritus
emeritus + noun (formal, before title)
Usage Note
When emeritus comes after the noun (professor emeritus), it is the more common pattern in modern English. When placed before the noun (Emeritus Professor), it is more formal and often used in official titles or ceremonial contexts.
Common Mistakes
emeritus — noun
1. a person — such as a professor, dean, or religious leader — who has retired but
a person — such as a professor, dean, or religious leader — who has retired but is allowed to keep their former title as a special honour.
The university invited all its emeriti to the annual alumni dinner.
plural form: emeriti
As an emeritus, Dr. Lin still attends faculty meetings and mentors younger staff.
The board of trustees formally welcomed each new emeritus at the spring ceremony.
countable: a new emeritus
Several emeriti from the law school offered free legal advice to students.
- an emeritus of the university
- emeriti of the college
- emeriti association
Grammar Patterns
an emeritus
emeriti (plural)
emerituses (plural, less common)
Usage Note
The plural form emeriti (from Latin) is more common than emerituses in academic writing. The noun use (an emeritus, the emeriti) is much rarer than the adjective use (professor emeritus); learners should expect to encounter the adjective form far more frequently.