Wednesday, June 20, 2018

antonyms - Opposite of honorary member



Defining a honorary member as a person which isn't actually a member of an organization but is recognized as such by the organization because of his/her contributions to the organization or society as a whole, I am wondering if there exists a noun or an adjective used specifically to refer to the real members.



I am looking to use it in the following way:




This mailing list is intended for both real and honorary members of our organization.





Why not just use real? I've thought about using real, standard or actual, but I feel like they all imply that one of the member categories is more important or otherwise superior to the other one, when for the matter at hand they are supposed to be considered equal.


Answer



I would use "regular members" in contradistinction to "honorary members." Here is the relevant meaning of regular in Merriam-Webster's Eleventh Collegiate Dictionary (2003):




regular adj ... 4 a : constituted, conducted, scheduled, or done in conformity with established or prescribed usages, rules, or discipline




Depending on the type of organization it is and the qualifications for regular membership, you might use the term "dues-paying members" (where dues-paying simply means "paying regular membership dues") or "rank-and-file members" instead. The relevant definition of rank and file in the Eleventh Collegiate is this:





rank and file n ... 2 : the individuals who constitute the body of an organization, society, or nation as distinguished from the leaders




But "regular members" is probably the most inclusive and neutral term to use.


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