There are 16,900 search results on Bing for the misspelling 'Honourary'. 'Honourary' ranks in the top 0 of most common errors caught by TripleChecker, with at least 231 websites containing this mistake.¹
The word 'honorary' functions primarily as an adjective. It describes a title or position that is granted as an honor without the usual responsibilities or duties. For example, someone may be given an honorary degree for their contributions to a field, even if they did not complete the formal requirements.
Honorary
The word 'honorary' originates from the Latin word 'honorarius,' which means 'pertaining to honor.' This Latin term is derived from 'honor,' meaning 'honor' or 'esteem.' The term entered English in the early 19th century.
The word 'honorary' is pronounced as /ˈɒnərɛri/. It can be phonetically represented as "ON-uh-rer-ee".
The word 'honorary' can be used in a sentence such as, "She received an honorary degree from the university for her contributions to science." When using 'honorary,' it's important to ensure that it is spelled correctly, as it is often confused with 'honourary' (the latter being an alternative spelling used in British English). Additionally, it should be used in contexts where a title or position is conferred without the usual requirements or duties associated with it.