guest of honor: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumFormal to Semi-Formal
Quick answer
What does “guest of honor” mean?
The person who is being specially honored at an event, ceremony, or gathering.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The person who is being specially honored at an event, ceremony, or gathering.
A person who is the central figure of respect or celebration at a formal or informal occasion, often invited to attend because of their status, achievements, or relationship to the hosts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'honour' is standard in British English, while 'honor' is standard in American English. The phrase is otherwise used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations of respect and special status in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both formal and semi-formal contexts in the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “guest of honor” in a Sentence
[Event] with [Person] as guest of honorThe guest of honor at [Event]To be the guest of honorVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “guest of honor” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The mayor was guest-of-honoured at the town's centenary dinner.
- She will be guest-of-honouring the charity gala next week.
American English
- The senator guest-of-honored the veterans' ceremony.
- They asked her to guest-of-honor the awards banquet.
adjective
British English
- The guest-of-honour speech was very moving.
- We reserved the guest-of-honour table near the stage.
American English
- The guest-of-honor spot was marked with a special placard.
- He had the guest-of-honor ribbon on his lapel.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used at corporate galas, award dinners, or retirement parties for a senior executive.
Academic
Used at graduation ceremonies, convocations, or lectures where a distinguished scholar is being recognized.
Everyday
Used for birthday parties, weddings, or family reunions where a specific person is being celebrated.
Technical
Not typically used in technical contexts; belongs to social/ceremonial register.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “guest of honor”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “guest of honor”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “guest of honor”
- Using 'guest of honour' as a plural without changing 'guest' (e.g., 'guests of honour' is correct).
- Confusing it with 'host' (the person giving the event).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically yes, but for events like a wedding, you can have multiple 'guests of honor' (e.g., the bride and groom). The phrase is usually singular but can be pluralised as 'guests of honor'.
A 'guest of honor' is specifically the person being celebrated at a particular event. A 'VIP' (Very Important Person) is anyone with high status, but they may not be the central honoree of the event. A guest of honor is always a VIP for that event, but a VIP is not necessarily the guest of honor.
Yes, it can be used semi-formally or even humorously in very informal settings (e.g., 'You're the guest of honor at our pizza night!'). However, its primary register is formal/semi-formal.
The correct British English spelling is 'guest of honour' (with a 'u'). However, the American spelling 'guest of honor' is widely understood in the UK due to global media.
The person who is being specially honored at an event, ceremony, or gathering.
Guest of honor: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡest əv ˈɒnə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡest əv ˈɑːnər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Steal the guest of honor's thunder (to draw attention away from them)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a GUEST wearing a crown (of HONOR) at a party, sitting at the best seat.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL EVENT AS A STAGE (where one person has the leading role).
Practice
Quiz
In which scenario is the term 'guest of honor' LEAST appropriate?