honorable
ON-uh-ruhbl
Honorable (adj) means acting with integrity and deserving respect. Example: “It was an honorable thing to do, admitting the mistake publicly.”
adj
1
Acting with integrity and deserving respect.
"It was an honorable thing to do, admitting the mistake publicly."
"He fought fair and lost with an honorable attitude."
"She was an honorable woman who always paid back what she owed."
2
A formal title of respect used for certain officials, such as judges, ministers, or members of Congress.
"The Honorable Jane Smith presided over the case."
"The court rose as the Honorable Judge Carter entered the room."
"Please welcome the Honorable Minister of Education to the stage."
How to use honorable
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDeserving of respect because of integrity, or used as a formal title for certain officials.
UK vs US
Spelled "honourable" in British English.
Common pairings
honorable mention
the Honorable [name]
honorable discharge
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Word forms
- Plural
- honorables
- Comparative
- more honorable
- Superlative
- most honorable
Fill the gap
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It was an _____ thing to do, admitting the mistake publicly.
Etymology
From Old French honorable, from Latin honorabilis, from honorare ("to honor").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for honorable
See all rhymes for honorable →Frequently asked questions
What does “honorable” mean?
The word “honorable” means acting with integrity and deserving respect. In plain terms, deserving of respect because of integrity, or used as a formal title for certain officials.
How do you pronounce “honorable”?
“Honorable” is pronounced ON-uh-ruhbl (/ˈɑn.ə.ɹəbl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “honorable” in a sentence?
Here is “honorable” used in a sentence: “It was an honorable thing to do, admitting the mistake publicly.”
What part of speech is “honorable”?
“Honorable” is an adjective.
Where does the word “honorable” come from?
The word “honorable” comes from Latin. From Old French honorable, from Latin honorabilis, from honorare ("to honor").
Is “honorable” a common word?
“Honorable” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “honorable” have?
“Honorable” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: acting with integrity and deserving respect.
What is the difference between honorable and honourable?
They are the same word with different spellings: honorable is the American English spelling, while honourable is the British English spelling. Both describe someone who acts with integrity and deserves respect, or serve as a formal title for certain officials.
When is 'The Honorable' used as a title?
'The Honorable' is a formal title of respect placed before the name of certain officials, such as judges, government ministers, ambassadors, or members of Congress, regardless of their personal character.
What is the difference between honorable and honest?
Honest specifically means telling the truth and not deceiving others, while honorable is broader, describing someone who acts with integrity, fairness, and principle in a way that earns respect.
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