the Order of Merit
/ði ˌɔːdər əv ˈmerɪt/
/ði ˌɔːrdər əv ˈmerɪt/
(abbreviation OM)
- one of the British orders of chivalry and the name of the honour that a person receives when made a member of this Order. The Order of Merit, which is limited to 24 living people from Britain and Commonwealth countries, plus a few additional people, was created in 1902 by King Edward VII for men and women who have achieved great things, especially in the arts, literature and science. Early members included Joseph Lister and Florence Nightingale. More recent members have included Margaret Thatcher, Lucian Freud and Nelson Mandela. People who are given this honour can place the letters OM after their name.
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the Order of Merit