honorific

[ on-uh-rif-ik ]
/ ˌɒn əˈrɪf ɪk /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR honorific ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

Also hon·or·if·i·cal. doing or conferring honor.
conveying honor, as a title or a grammatical form used in speaking to or about a superior, elder, etc.

noun

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

Origin of honorific

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

OTHER WORDS FROM honorific

hon·or·if·i·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby honorific

honorarium, honorary, honorary canon, honored, honoree, honorific, honoris causa, honorius, honorius i, honorius ii, honorius iii

Words related to honorific

style, moniker, pseudonym, designation, epithet, brand, cognomen, appellation, label, appellative, tag, term, tab, handle, denomination, sobriquet, nomen

Example sentences from the Web for honorific

British Dictionary definitions for honorific

honorific
/ (ˌɒnəˈrɪfɪk) /

adjective

showing or conferring honour or respect
  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 of honorific

honorifically, adverb