honorific
/ˌɒnəˈrɪfɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɑːnəˈrɪfɪk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌä-nə-ˈri-fik/ (ame, mw) · /ˌɒn.ərˈɪf.ɪk/ (bre, ipa)
honorific — adjective
- honorificpositive
- more honorificcomparative
- most honorificsuperlative
1. describing a title, form of address, or gesture that is added to mark high socia
describing a title, form of address, or gesture that is added to mark high social status or to give someone special respect
Valentina was given the honorific title 'Professor Emerita' when she retired from the university.
honorific + title for marking earned status
In Japanese, '-san' is an honorific suffix added to almost every adult's name.
honorific + suffix in language description
The mayor handed Eli an honorific medal for thirty years of library volunteer work.
Calling an older Korean cousin 'oppa' is an honorific way of showing family respect.
The retired ambassador still receives honorific invitations to embassy dinners across Europe.
- ceremonial
stresses the formal ritual function, not the respect carried
- titular
shares the 'in name only' nuance but means holding a title without the duties
- complimentary
wider — any flattering label, not just one marking social rank
- disrespectful
describes a manner; opposite in intent rather than in grammar
- pejorative
a label that lowers status instead of raising it
文法句型
honorific + title / form / address
an honorific term
用法筆記
Almost always sits directly in front of a noun like 'title', 'name', 'address', 'medal', 'suffix', or 'role'. The honorific label itself usually carries no working duty — it is given to acknowledge status, not to assign tasks.
常見錯誤
honorific — noun
- honorificsingular
- honorificsplural
1. a word or short label placed before or after a person's name to show politeness,
a word or short label placed before or after a person's name to show politeness, social rank, or professional standing — for example 'Mr', 'Dr', 'Your Honour', or the Japanese '-san'
On formal invitations, Shirin still prefers the honorific 'Doctor' before her surname.
the honorific 'X' before a name
Hyun warned the new exchange student to never drop honorifics when speaking to her grandparents.
drop honorifics in a social context
Many email systems now let users choose 'Mx' as a gender-neutral honorific.
Court reporters in Manila address the judge with the honorific 'Your Honour' throughout the hearing.
Adaeze added the honorific 'Chief' to her father's name on the wedding programme.
- title
everyday word; an honorific is a specific kind of title used in direct address
- salutation
the opening greeting of a letter, which often contains an honorific
- form of address
covers the whole way of speaking to someone, including the honorific plus name
文法句型
use / add / drop an honorific
the honorific 'X'
用法筆記
Often used in language teaching and cultural writing to talk about politeness systems in Japanese, Korean, Thai, and other languages. In English, common honorifics include 'Mr', 'Ms', 'Mrs', 'Mx', 'Dr', 'Sir', 'Dame', and 'Your Honour'.