An adjunct professor is a type of academic appointment in higher education who does not work at the establishment full-time.
As with other part-time workers, they are paid less than full-time professors and do not receive employee benefits such as health insurance or an office.
Notably, in countries such as Argentina and Brazil, a similar designation, professor adjunto, also implies stable employment.
A docentship should be regarded as an educational title not connected with the employment rank as such, rather an assurance of the level of expertise, to enable the person to advance further in their academic career.
The rank of a docent entitles scientists to be principal investigators, lead research groups, and act as the supervisors of doctoral students.
In Australia, the term adjunct is reserved for academics and researchers from outside the university who have a close association with the university, e.g., through supervision of PhD students, recognized by an honorary title reflective of their rank and standing (adjunct lecturer, senior lecturer, associate professor or professor).