honorific

[ on-uh-rif-ik ]

adjective

1. Also honorifical. doing or conferring honor.
2. conveying honor, as a title or a grammatical form used in speaking to or about a superior, elder, etc.

noun

1. (in certain languages, as Chinese and Japanese) a class of forms used to show respect, especially in direct address.
2. a title or term of respect.

honorific

/ ˌɒnəˈrɪfɪk /

adjective

1. showing or conferring honour or respect
2. 1. (of a pronoun, verb inflection, etc) indicating the speaker's respect for the addressee or his acknowledgment of inferior status
   2. ( as noun )

      a Japanese honorific

Derived Forms

• ˌhonorˈifically, adverb

Other Words From

• hon·or·if·i·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of honorific¹

First recorded in 1640–50, honorific is from the Latin word honōrificus honor-making. See honor, -i-, -fic

Example Sentences

That attitude is still carried today by politicians like Bill Clinton, who described middle-class Americans as people who "work hard and play by the rules," and Harris, who bestowed them with a flattering honorific: "the engine of America's prosperity."

From Salon

He referred to Nasrallah by his honorific.

From Los Angeles Times

She lost her honorific “Her Royal Highness” title in 2002 so as to be allowed to start her own business.

From BBC

Words freighted with meaning for China's Uyghur population - including Hoja, a title for a Sufi religious teacher, and political or honorific titles such as Sultan and beg - have been replaced with words HRW claims reflect "recent Chinese Communist Party ideology", including "harmony" and "happiness".

From BBC

On the Zoom screen, his name is “Director Park,” using the title as an honorific, common in Korean culture.

From Los Angeles Times