1(especially in the UK or other Commonwealth countries) a system of awards and titles conferred by a country or state in recognition of individual achievement or service.
the British government is conducting a review of the honours system
Example sentencesExamples
A government spokesman said they did not comment on selections for the honours system.
It is high time the honours system was binned to make our society more equal.
He publicly criticised the honours system on failing to garner a knighthood.
People have called for a shake-up of the honours system.
The SNP has a policy of refusing appointments to do with the honours system.
Charles' advisers are also toying with the idea of a reform of the honours system to reflect the new Scotland.
A Welsh honours system recognising "ordinary people who do extraordinary things" has been announced during a debate in the Senedd.
Scores of leading Australians have quietly snubbed the country's honours system by refusing to accept awards.
Mr. Mandela is also an honorary Companion of the Order of Canada, the centrepiece of Canada's honours system.
The Australian honours system is free of patronage or political influence.
2A system of university education in which undergraduates pursue a course of study that leads to an honours degree.
the traditional honours system of firsts, upper and lower seconds, and thirds would be retained
Example sentencesExamples
Any reference to a course shall be deemed to be a reference to either a Principal Subject within the Dual Honours system, or to a postgraduate programme of study.
How does the honours system work in UK universities?
Due to the flexibility of Keele's dual honours system it is possible to combine two undergraduate science subjects together.
The system could presage a three-year honours degree at Strathclyde University and undermine Scotland's four-year honours system, which distinguishes universities north of the Border from their English counterparts.
If the Edinburgh university pilot is a success it will be the first time in nearly 200 years that the structure of the honours system would be challenged.