What does emeriti mean?
'Emeriti' is the plural of 'emeritus,' a Latin-derived honorific designating someone who has retired from a professional post but retains its title as a mark of distinguished service. Most commonly encountered at universities, the term refers to retired professors who continue to hold their rank — a professor emeritus becomes part of a body of professors emeriti. The word also applies to retired clergy and other officials who keep an honorary connection to their former office. Because it comes directly from Latin, it follows Latin rather than English plurals: one emeritus or emerita, but collectively emeriti (or, for an all-female group, emeritae). The underlying Latin verb 'emereri' means to earn or deserve by service, so the title literally signals that the honor has been earned. Formal in register and almost exclusively institutional in use, 'emeriti' carries connotations of long service, respect, and continued scholarly or professional standing after retirement.
nounThe plural of 'emeritus': retired professors, clergy, or other professionals who retain the title and honorary status of their former position.
- Retired professors or academics who formally retain their title and privileges.
- Retired clergy or other professionals granted honorary retention of their office or title.
"The university's faculty emeriti were invited to attend the centennial celebration as honored guests."
"The department hosted a luncheon honoring its emeriti for decades of scholarship."
"Bishops emeriti occasionally return to assist with confirmations in their former dioceses."
'Emeriti' is itself a plural noun; its singular forms are 'emeritus' (masculine) and 'emerita' (feminine).
"One professor emeritus attended; three emeriti were unable to come."
Latin grammar is still alive in academia — a group of retired professors is never 'emerituses,' always 'emeriti,' just like 'alumni.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of emeriti
'Emeriti' derives from the Latin past participle of 'emereri,' meaning 'to have earned or deserved by service,' formed from 'ex-' ('out of') plus 'mereri' ('to merit'). English adopted 'emeritus' from Latin in the 18th century, originally describing soldiers who had completed their service, before it settled into its modern academic and clerical sense. The word shares its root with 'merit,' 'demerit,' and 'meritorious,' all tracing back to the same Latin stem 'mere-' relating to earning and deserving.
Related word forms
How emeriti is actually used
A formal, academic register term. It is the masculine or mixed-gender plural; an all-female group may be called 'emeritae.' The feminine singular is 'emerita.' In everyday speech it appears almost exclusively in institutional contexts such as universities and religious bodies.
Easily confused with emeriti
'Emeritus' is the singular masculine form used with one person, while 'emeriti' is the plural form referring to two or more such individuals.