Rt. Hon.

Writing & Everyday abbreviation · Title and Honorific

Rt. Hon. stands for Right Honourable, a title and honorific abbreviation.

Honorific for members of the UK Privy Council, which includes senior government ministers and judges, as well as for earls, viscounts, barons and the lord mayors of a few cities. It appears before the name in formal correspondence and official lists.

Example: Letters to the minister should be addressed to the Rt. Hon. Jane Smith MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.

Usage notes

British style writes "Rt Hon" without periods. Privy counsellors keep the style for life, so former prime ministers remain "the Rt Hon." Peers who are also privy counsellors add the letters PC after their names to show it. In Canada, prime ministers, governors general and chief justices are styled "Right Honourable" for life.

Related abbreviations

More title and honorific abbreviations

• Mx. – Mx. (gender-neutral courtesy title)
• OBE – Officer of the Order of the British Empire
• Ofc. – Officer
• Pres. – President
• Prof. – Professor
• Rep. – Representative
• Sec. – Secretary
• Sen. – Senator
• Smt. – Shrimati
• Sr. – Senior (job level)
• Supt. – Superintendent
• Tpr – Trooper

See all 54 title and honorific abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.