honors of war: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Literary, Historical
Quick answer
What does “honors of war” mean?
A ceremonial right or concession granted by a victorious commander to a defeated force, allowing them to march out of their position with weapons, flags, and other signs of military dignity, often prior to surrender.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A ceremonial right or concession granted by a victorious commander to a defeated force, allowing them to march out of their position with weapons, flags, and other signs of military dignity, often prior to surrender.
In broader modern contexts, it refers to granting dignified, respectful terms of surrender or recognition of an opponent's valor, even in defeat. It can metaphorically apply to any situation where an adversary is treated with special courtesy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling: British usage retains 'honours of war'. American usage uses 'honors of war'. No semantic difference.
Connotations
Slightly more likely to appear in British historical texts due to older military traditions being more commonly referenced. In American contexts, it may be found in discussions of the Revolutionary War or Civil War.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both varieties, but marginally higher in British English due to its historical and ceremonial lexicon.
Grammar
How to Use “honors of war” in a Sentence
The victor {granted/accorded} the defeated garrison the honors of war.They {surrendered/capitulated} {with/to the accompaniment of} the honors of war.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “honors of war” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The garrison was allowed to honour the terms and march out.
American English
- The commander honored the agreement and permitted the retreat.
adverb
British English
- They fought honourably to the last.
American English
- The treaty was honorably observed by both sides.
adjective
British English
- The honours list included those who had fought bravely.
American English
- It was an honorable discharge, not a disgraceful one.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Metaphorical: 'After the takeover, the outgoing CEO was given the honors of war, retaining a seat on the board.'
Academic
Used in historical, military history, and international law contexts to describe specific conventions of surrender.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be used metaphorically in high-register discussions about sports or politics.
Technical
Specific term in military history and the laws of armed conflict, referring to a now largely obsolete customary practice.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “honors of war”
- Using singular 'honor of war'. *'They gave them honor of war.' (Incorrect) / Using it as a verb. *'They honored them of war.' (Incorrect) / Misinterpreting it as general wartime bravery.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a historical and highly specialized term. You will encounter it almost exclusively in historical texts, military history, or used metaphorically in formal writing.
Only metaphorically. For example, 'After the merger, the ousted founder was given the honors of war with a generous consultancy role.' It signifies treating a defeated rival with dignity.
Because it refers to a set of specific privileges or 'honors' (e.g., keeping flags, beating drums, bearing arms) granted as a package. It is a fixed plural noun phrase.
They are opposites. 'Honors of war' implies a conditional, dignified surrender with specific privileges. 'Unconditional surrender' means the victor imposes any terms they wish, with no guarantees of dignity for the defeated.
A ceremonial right or concession granted by a victorious commander to a defeated force, allowing them to march out of their position with weapons, flags, and other signs of military dignity, often prior to surrender.
Honors of war is usually formal, literary, historical in register.
Honors of war: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɒnəz əv wɔː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɑːnɚz əv wɔːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To be given the honors of war (to be treated with unexpected dignity in defeat).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HONOR guard for a defeated army, allowing them to keep their flags and drums as they march OUT OF WAR.
Conceptual Metaphor
DEFEAT IS A CEREMONIAL EXIT; HONOR IS A TANGIBLE REWARD.
Practice
Quiz
What does the phrase 'honors of war' specifically refer to?