1. A payment of money or anything else of value made to a person for services rendered for which fees cannot legally be or are not traditionally paid. • Federal law restricts the payment of honoraria to members of Congress.
2. A voluntary reward for that for which no remuneration could be collected by law; a voluntary donation in consideration of services that admit of no compensation in money.
3. Roman law. A gratuitous payment, esp. for professional services, as distinguished from compensation for physical labor. Pl. honoraria. Cf. MERCES.
