WordNet
n. a degree conferred to honor the recipient
Wikipedia
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa ( Latin: "for the sake of the honor") is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, a dissertation and the passing of comprehensive examinations. The degree is typically a doctorate or, less commonly, a master's degree, and may be awarded to someone who has no prior connection with the academic institution or no previous postsecondary education. An example of identifying a recipient of this award is as follows: Doctorate in Business Administration (Hon. Causa).
The degree is often conferred as a way of honouring a distinguished visitor's contributions to a specific field or to society in general. It is often given to graduation speakers at a university or college, and the university may derive benefits by association with the person in question. The degree is not recognized by employers as having the same stature as a corresponding earned doctorate degree and should not be represented as such.
It is sometimes recommended that such degrees be listed in one's CV as an award, and not in the education section. With regard to the use of this honorific, the policies of institutions of higher education generally ask that recipients "refrain from adopting the misleading title" and that a recipient of an honorary doctorate should restrict the use of the title "Dr" before their name to any engagement with the institution of higher education in question and not within the broader community. Rev. Theodore Hesburgh held the record for most honorary degrees, having been awarded 150 during his lifetime.
Usage examples of "honorary degree".
Ezra Stiles, president of Yale, in a letter informing Adams that he had received an honorary degree from Yale, said he rejoiced at the thought of Adams for Vice President.
Washington is the first of his race to receive an honorary degree from a New England university.
It would have been a keen pleasure to me to write an editorial on the occasion of your honorary degree.
He went overseas again in October to be given another honorary degree, at Liege, and these and other calls on his time delayed his work on the appendices for The Lord of the Rings.
On formal occasions--when he had appeared in court, or when he was being given an award or an honorary degree--he was usually addressed as Andrew Martin, but that was as far in the direction of formality as anybody ever went.
On formal occasions--when he had appeared in court, or when he was being given an award or an honorary degree--he was usually addressed as “.
I recently attended a debate in Congregation, Oxford University's 'parliament', on whether to offer an honorary degree to somebody.
If it were public knowledge all sorts of undesirables who have never done anything for education in the past would all come along wanting to buy an honorary degree.
There was some suggestion that Waverley ought to give him an honorary degree, as a reward for his patriotism and knowledge of books.
I am surprised they're giving me an honorary degree, considering how incredibly backward I am.
DAY CEREMONY, TRAFFORD UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK, AFTER RECEIVING AN HONORARY DEGREE IN PHILOSOPHY.