It is also used when a person of distinction in a profession retires or hands over the position, enabling their former rank to be retained in their title.
The term emeritus does not necessarily signify that a person has relinquished all the duties of their former position, and they may continue to exercise some of them.
In most systems and institutions, the rank is bestowed on all professors who have retired in good standing, while at others, it needs a special act or vote.
In Judaism, emeritus is often a title granted to long-serving rabbis of synagogues or other Jewish institutions.
[9] Cabinet of Singapore also adopted the use of emeritus and so far it has been conferred to Senior Minister of Singapore Goh Chok Tong in 2011, when he and then-Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew both stepped down from the upcoming cabinet as part of the party's renewal process.