( in full Member of the Order of the British Empire )
an award given to people in Britain for public service. It is given to people twice a year, in the New Year Honours list and in the Birthday Honours list. An MBE is the lowest grade of award of this kind.
In 1993, in response to the feeling that awards were not given often enough to ordinary people, the government changed the system so that people who are recommended by members of the public for the service they provide can receive the award.