Honorary for Dummies

Honorary is a word that we use to describe something that is given to someone as a special recognition or as a symbol of respect, even though they may not have earned it in the traditional way. It's kind of like getting a special award or being named as an honorary member of a group. You might think of it as a way of saying, "We think you're really great and we want to honor you in a special way!"

For example, let's imagine that there is a firefighter who has been working for many years and has saved many lives. The town might decide to give him an honorary title of "Firefighter of the Year" to show their appreciation and respect for all the hard work he has done to keep people safe. Even though he didn't officially win the title in a competition, the community wants to honor him for his bravery and selflessness.

Now, sometimes people are given honorary degrees, which are special diplomas that are given to them by a college or university. This is often done to recognize their achievements or their contributions to a certain field, even if they haven't gone through all the usual steps to earn a degree. It's like saying, "You have done so much in your field that we want to recognize you with this special honor."

An honorary degree might be given to someone like a famous author, scientist, or musician who has made significant contributions to their field but may not have completed a formal education program. So, instead of going to college and taking classes, they are given this special title to show that they are respected and valued for their knowledge and expertise.

In summary, honorary simply means receiving a special recognition, like an award or title, to honor and show respect to someone, even though they may not have earned it in the usual way. It's a way of saying, "We think you're really great, and we want to celebrate your achievements and show our appreciation for you."