respectable

respectable — adjective

1. Behaving and dressing in ways that match what most people in a community conside

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

Behaving and dressing in ways that match what most people in a community consider proper and morally right — for example, being honest at work, polite to neighbours, and dressing neatly in public.

Example

Hugo always wears a suit to job interviews because he wants to look respectable.

look + respectable (appearance-based impression)

The charity event attracted only the most respectable families in the town.

Common collocations
  • respectable family
  • respectable background
  • respectable citizen
  • respectable appearance
  • look respectable
  • seem respectable
  • perfectly respectable
Synonyms
  • decent

    slightly broader; can describe a person or action that meets basic moral standards without the same emphasis on social judgement

  • honourable

    stronger moral weight; suggests high ethical principles rather than just social acceptability

  • upright

    more formal and less common; stresses moral integrity and honesty

  • reputable

    focuses on the good reputation a person or organization holds in the community

  • presentable

    narrower — only about appearance being neat enough, not about overall character or behaviour

Antonyms
  • disreputable

    the direct opposite; describes someone with a bad reputation or morally questionable behaviour

  • shameful

    describes an action or behaviour that brings social disapproval, rather than a person's overall standing

Grammar Patterns

respectable + noun

be + respectable

seem/look/appear + respectable

Usage Note

Describes a person's behaviour, appearance, or reputation as meeting society's basic moral standards. Commonly used with verbs like 'seem', 'look', 'appear', and 'consider'. Not typically applied to objects or abstract concepts outside of character judgement.

Common Mistakes

He is a respectful person' (when meaning he follows social norms).
He is a respectable person.
'respectful' means showing respect to others; 'respectable' means worthy of being respected by others.
She comes from a respectful family.
She comes from a respectable family.
a family's social standing uses 'respectable', not 'respectful'.

2. Of a quantity, size, or result: large enough or good enough to be seen as satisf

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

Of a quantity, size, or result: large enough or good enough to be seen as satisfactory, even if not excellent — for example, a salary that covers your needs, a score that shows you tried hard, or a profit that keeps the business going.

Example

Bao earned a respectable salary at the factory, enough to support his parents.

collocation: respectable salary

The team finished the season with a respectable record of twelve wins and seven losses.

Common collocations
  • respectable salary
  • respectable profit
  • respectable score
  • respectable turnout
  • respectable number
  • respectable amount
  • respectable size
Synonyms
  • decent

    very similar in meaning for quantity/quality; 'a decent salary' and 'a respectable salary' are nearly interchangeable

  • reasonable

    focuses on fairness rather than sufficiency; 'a reasonable price' is fair, while 'a respectable price' suggests an adequate amount

  • adequate

    more neutral; just enough to meet needs without the positive connotation of 'respectable'

  • fair

    often used for sizes and amounts to suggest they are acceptably large

Antonyms
  • meagre

    describes an amount that is too small to be satisfactory

  • pitiful

    more emotional; describes a result that is embarrassingly small or poor

  • poor

    general term for a result or quality below an acceptable standard

Grammar Patterns

respectable + [amount/size/score/profit]

a + respectable + noun

Usage Note

Only used with nouns that express quantity, size, outcome, or achievement — NOT with generic concrete nouns like 'chair' or 'book'. A 'respectable meal' is possible (good enough quality), but 'a respectable table' is not. Always describes something that could be measured or evaluated against a standard.

Common Mistakes

The company made a respectful profit.
The company made a respectable profit.
'respectful' means showing politeness, not about size or adequacy.

respectable — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe someone who meets moral or social standards, but they differ in focus and weight. 'Decent' is the broadest and most neutral — it simply means meeting basic standards of fairness and kindness ('a decent person would return the wallet'). 'Respectable' adds a social dimension: it is not enough to be morally good; you must also appear and behave in a way that matches society's expectations. 'Honourable' is stronger, implying a person who lives by a strict personal code of ethics — often used for people in positions of trust ('an honourable judge'). 'Upright' is more formal and emphasizes moral integrity and honesty above all, without the social-performance aspect of 'respectable'. 'Reputable' focuses on the good name a person or organization holds in public opinion, which may be earned by professional reliability rather than personal morality. In everyday use, calling someone 'respectable' can carry a faint edge of criticism — they conform, but perhaps at the cost of being dull or conventional. 'Decent' and 'honourable' are almost always sincere compliments.

decent ↗honourable ↗upright ↗reputable ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • a respectable member of
  • the respectable classes

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word comes from Latin 'respectabilis', meaning 'worthy of regard or notice', formed from 'respectare' (to look back at, to regard) and the suffix '-abilis' (able to). It entered English through Old French 'respectable' in the 1500s. The original meaning was simply 'worthy of respect', but by the 1700s the word had taken on a stronger social meaning: someone who not only deserved respect but also visibly conformed to middle-class standards of behaviour, dress, and morality — a shift that reflects the growing importance of 'appearing proper' in Industrial-era society.