honorable
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
Honorable, respected, reputable, dignified, and admirable all describe someone or something that earns positive regard, but they emphasize different qualities. Honorable focuses on moral integrity and keeping one's word — someone who does the right thing even when it costs them personally. Respected emphasizes the esteem others feel, which may come from expertise, age, or position rather than moral character alone. Reputable points to having a proven good reputation in a specific field, such as a reputable school or hospital. Dignified highlights a calm, serious, and noble way of carrying oneself, especially under pressure or in difficult situations. Admirable suggests qualities that others look up to, like courage or generosity, often tied to a particular action rather than a person's whole character. For example, a retiring judge is both honorable (principled) and dignified (composed), a long-standing clinic is reputable (trusted for quality), and a stranger who rescues a child from a burning car is admirable (brave and selfless).
Common collocations
Etymology
Honorable entered English through Old French 'honorable' in the 13th century. The French word came from Latin 'honorabilis,' meaning 'worthy of honor,' which was built on 'honor' (esteem, respect, dignity). The word has been used in English both as a general term for worthiness of respect and as a formal title for officials since the 1400s. The spelling without the 'u' (honorable) became standard in American English, while British English kept the French-influenced 'honourable.'