What does honoree mean?
A honoree is a person who receives an honor, award, or public tribute for an achievement, service, or contribution. The word is especially common in announcements concerning award ceremonies, festivals, anniversaries, and other occasions on which individuals or organizations are formally recognized. Its meaning is broader than that of “awardee,” since recognition may take the form of a ceremonial tribute rather than a prize. “Honoree” should not be confused with “honorary”: the former names a person, while the latter describes an award, title, membership, or position given as a distinction. The term is formal but widely understood and is used particularly in American English, where it is usually spelled with a single final “e”; “honouree” is the more common British variant. The final-syllable stress distinguishes it from related words such as “honor” and “honorary.”
nounA person who is being honored or has been formally recognized for an achievement, service, or contribution. The term often refers to the recipient of an award or tribute.
- A person formally honored for an achievement, service, or contribution, especially as the recipient of an award or tribute.
"The festival honored several outstanding community members as its annual honorees."
"She was named the ceremony's honoree for her work in cancer research."
"The gathering brought together past recipients and the year's honoree."
The standard plural adds -s to the final -ee.
"Several former honorees returned for the anniversary celebration."
The word combines French honoré, meaning “honored,” with the English suffix -ee, turning recognition into a person who receives it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does honoree come from?
“Honoree” entered English in the early nineteenth century from the French honoré, the masculine past participle of honorer, “to honor.” The English suffix -ee was added to indicate a person who receives an honor or reward. French honoré itself derives from Latin honor, the source of the English family including honor, honorable, honorary, and honorific.
Related word forms
How honoree is actually used
The word is formal and most common in award ceremonies, public tributes, and institutional announcements. In American usage, “honoree” is standard; “honouree” is more typical in British usage. Both are pronounced with primary stress on the final syllable.
Easily confused with honoree
A honoree is a person receiving recognition, whereas honorary describes an award, title, or membership conferred as a distinction.
Honouree is a chiefly British spelling of the same word; honoree is the usual US spelling.