honour
O-nuh
Also spelled honor (US spelling)
Honour (noun) means the British spelling of honor — high respect, or a sense of what is morally right. Example: “She kept her promise as a matter of honour, even when it cost her.”
noun
1
The British spelling of honor — high respect, or a sense of what is morally right.
"She kept her promise as a matter of honour, even when it cost her."
"It was a great honour to meet the author in person."
"He acted with honour throughout the negotiation."
verb
1
The British spelling of honor — to show great respect for someone, or to fulfil an agreement.
"The shop will honour the voucher until the end of the month."
"We gather every year to honour the people who helped our village."
"The company honoured the terms of the original contract."
How to use honour
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSimply the UK/Commonwealth spelling of "honor" — same meaning, extra "u".
UK vs US
British, Canadian, and Commonwealth English write "honour"; American English drops the u and writes "honor".
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- honours
- Third person singular
- honours
- Past tense
- honoured
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She kept her promise as a matter of _____, even when it cost her.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for honour
See all rhymes for honour →Frequently asked questions
What does “honour” mean?
The word “honour” means the British spelling of honor — high respect, or a sense of what is morally right. In plain terms, simply the UK/Commonwealth spelling of "honor" — same meaning, extra "u".
How do you pronounce “honour”?
“Honour” is pronounced O-nuh (/ˈɒnə(ɹ)/ in IPA).
How do you use “honour” in a sentence?
Here is “honour” used in a sentence: “It was a great honour to meet the author in person.”
What part of speech is “honour”?
Depending on how it is used, “honour” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “honour” a common word?
“Honour” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “honour” have?
“Honour” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the British spelling of honor — high respect, or a sense of what is morally right.
Is it honour or honor?
Both are correct; the difference is regional. Honour is the British spelling, standard in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and Canada, while honor is the American spelling. The meaning — high respect, or a sense of what is morally right — is identical.
Is it honourable or honorable?
Follow the same regional split as honour: honourable in British English and honorable in American English. Note that even in British English some derived words drop the u, such as honorary and honorific.
Is honour capitalised in 'Your Honour'?
Yes. When addressing a judge, Your Honour is a title and takes capital letters. As an ordinary noun — 'she defended her honour' — honour is written in lowercase.
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