English Explanatory Dictionary

honorable

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Behaving in a manner that shows honor; decent, having integrity.
  2. Worthy of respect; respectable.
  3. Complying with cultural rules regarding honor; not provoking shame or disgrace.
  4. A courtesy title, given in Britain and the Commonwealth to a cabinet minister, minister of state, or senator, and in the United States to the president, vice president, congresspeople, state governors and legislators, and mayors.
noun
  1. A politician or other person who bears the title of "honorable".
adj
  1. Alternative letter-case form of honorable.

Pronunciation

ŏnʹərəbl ŏnʹrəbl /ˈɒn.ə ɹəbl̩/ /ˈɒn.ɹəbl̩/ /ˈɑn.ə.ɹəbl̩/ /ˈɑn.ɹəbl̩/ en-us-honorable.ogg

Word forms

honorable more honorable most honorable honble honourable honorables

Etymology

From Middle English honourable, from Old French honorable, honurable, from Latin honōrābilis, from honōrō (“to honour”); cognate with Italian onorabile, Spanish honorable. By surface analysis, honor + -able. In this sense, largely displaced Old English ārfæst.

Synonyms

estimable noble venerable admirable allowable commendable creditable glorious honorable laudable praiseworthy respectable reverable reverend valuable worthy Hon'ble Hon.

Antonyms

contemptible despicable mean

Derived words

amende honorable Ancient and Honorable Order of Turtles do the honorable thing Hon. Hon'ble Honourable Honorable Colonel honorable discharge honorable mention honorableness honorably honourably right honorable right honourable unhonorable
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