courtesy title

noun

: a polite and formal word that is used in place of someone's name or as part of someone's name

Full Definition of COURTESY TITLE

: a title (as “Lord” added to the Christian name of a peer's younger son) used in addressing certain lineal relatives of British peers

: a title (as “Professor” for any teacher) taken by the user and commonly accepted without consideration of official right

See courtesy title defined for English-language learners

1865

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