POSTNOMINAL Meaning and
Definition
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The term "postnominal" is an adjective that describes a word or phrase appearing after a person's name, usually highlighting their academic qualifications, honors, memberships, or other distinctions. It is commonly used to specify the titles or initials that come after a person's given name and surname, serving to highlight their achievements or affiliations.
Postnominals are extensively used in various professional fields such as academia, medicine, law, military, and even within social organizations. For instance, a person holding a doctorate in philosophy may have the postnominal "Ph.D." added after their name. Similarly, a lawyer may display the postnominals "J.D." (Juris Doctor) or "Esq." (Esquire) to indicate their qualification or professional status.
These postnominals can vary significantly based on one's country, culture, and the conferred honors or academic degrees. In some cases, postnominals may also include abbreviations to represent affiliations with different organizations, such as fellowships, professional societies, or clubs.
One notable example is the "Order of the British Empire," where members can include postnominals such as "OBE," "MBE," or "CBE" to demonstrate their rank within the order.
Overall, postnominals serve as a concise and standardized way to communicate information about a person's qualifications, accomplishments, or affiliations in a formal context, enabling individuals to be easily identified and recognized within their professional or social communities.
Etymology of POSTNOMINAL
The word "postnominal" is derived from the combination of two Latin words: "post" meaning "after" and "nominal" meaning "pertaining to a name". The term is often used in linguistics, grammar, and formal writing to refer to words or phrases that appear after a person's name and provide additional information about that person’s identity, qualifications, or honors. Examples of postnominals include academic degrees (e.g., PhD, MD), professional certifications (e.g., CPA, CFA), military ranks (e.g., Sergeant, General), and honorary titles (e.g., Sir, Dame).
