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Phi Beta Kappa

American  
[fahy bey-tuh kap-uh, bee-tuh] / ˈfaɪ ˈbeɪ tə ˈkæp ə, ˈbi tə /

noun

  1. a national honor society, founded in 1776, whose members are chosen, for lifetime membership, usually from among college undergraduates of high academic distinction.

  2. a member of Phi Beta Kappa.


Phi Beta Kappa British  
/ ˈfaɪ ˈbeɪtə ˈkæpə, ˈbiːtə /

noun

  1. a national honorary society, founded in 1776, membership of which is based on high academic ability

  2. a member of this society

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Phi Beta Kappa

from the initials of the Greek motto philosophia biou kubernētēs philosophy the guide of life

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Even into my adulthood he suggested I display it in my office alongside my Phi Beta Kappa parchment so that visitors could assess my character as well as my academic achievements.

From The Wall Street Journal

He graduated from The College of William and Mary, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

From The Wall Street Journal

The film, in its first minutes, prefers the latter, opening with a rat-a-tat montage of her many successes: author, linguist, Phi Beta Kappa scholar.

From New York Times

He grew up here, was valedictorian at Jefferson High School and a Phi Beta Kappa political science student at UCLA.

From Los Angeles Times

At Columbia University, he breezed through literature studies and earned a bachelor’s degree, with a Phi Beta Kappa key, in 1952.

From New York Times