emeritus

[ ih-mer-i-tuhs ]

adjective

1. retired or honorably discharged from active professional duty, but retaining the title of one's office or position:

   dean emeritus of the graduate school;

   editor in chief emeritus.

noun

, plural e·mer·i·ti [ih-, mer, -i-tahy, -tee].

1. an emeritus professor, minister, etc.

emeritus

/ ɪˈmɛrɪtəs /

adjective

1. usually postpositive retired or honourably discharged from full-time work, but retaining one's title on an honorary basis

   a professor emeritus

Word History and Origins

Origin of emeritus¹

First recorded in 1785–95; from Latin ēmeritus “fully earned,” past participle of ēmerēre “to fully earn,” from ē- e- ¹ + merēre “to earn”; merit

Word History and Origins

Origin of emeritus¹

C19: from Latin, from merēre to deserve; see merit

Example Sentences

Santa Monica College has been offering a free non-credit Emeritus program for 50 years, and Pierce College in Woodland Hills has a similar program called Encore.

From Los Angeles Times

"A president has influence over both fiscal policy and monetary policy, but the influence is indirect," said Michael Walden, a Reynolds Distinguished Professor Emeritus at North Carolina State University.

From Salon

When considering a president's influence on the economy, it's important to recognize that we have a market economy, said Michael Walden, a Reynolds Distinguished Professor Emeritus at North Carolina State University.

From Salon

John Woolley, a professor emeritus of political science and co-director of the American Presidency Project at UC Santa Barbara, said people’s feelings about this race being particularly jarring are valid.

From Los Angeles Times

Added Richard Santillán, a professor emeritus and longtime season-ticket holder: “People laughed, my father laughed. My father would say he looks just like a typical mexicano. He was pudgy … he was what they’d call gordito.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• elderly
• resigned