honour
noun
honour
American
[on-er]
/ ˈɒn ər /
noun
Chiefly British.
honour
1
British
/ ˈɒnə /
noun
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personal integrity; allegiance to moral principles
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fame or glory
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a person or thing that wins this for another
he is an honour to the school
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(often plural) great respect, regard, esteem, etc, or an outward sign of this
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(often plural) high or noble rank
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a privilege or pleasure
it is an honour to serve you
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a woman's virtue or chastity
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bridge poker any of the top five cards in a suit or any of the four aces at no trumps
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whist any of the top four cards
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golf the right to tee off first
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to pay homage to
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to be a credit to
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to serve as host or hostess
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to perform a social act, such as carving meat, proposing a toast, etc
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slang:school an exclamation pledging honour
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under a moral obligation
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out of respect for
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on the pledge of one's word or good name
verb
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to hold in respect or esteem
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to show courteous behaviour towards
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to worship
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to confer a distinction upon
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to accept and then pay when due (a cheque, draft, etc)
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to keep (one's promise); fulfil (a previous agreement)
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to bow or curtsy to (one's dancing partner)
Honour
2
British
/ ˈɒnə /
noun
Spelling
See -or 1.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of honour
C12: from Old French onor, from Latin honor esteem
Explanation
Honour is the British English spelling of the word "honor." Honour means respect or prestige. If a teacher wants her students to treat her with honour, she has to be worthy of it, showing them the respect they deserve. An honour is also a tangible award that you are given for some accomplishment. If your grades are great, you might receive an honour at the academic awards banquet. As a verb, honour means to show a high amount of respect. In traditional wedding vows, both the bride and groom promise to love and honour each other.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"We hope it will find a nice, wonderful place in Beijing. It's your honour," he said.
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
"Playing for England has been the greatest honour I could have ever wished for and a dream come true."
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
Just a year later, the Thomas Tunnock lifeboat, named in honour of the businessman's late brother and grandfather, was launched to great acclaim.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
A forgotten vegetable once viewed as peasant or livestock food is enjoying an unlikely comeback in Somerset as a festival in its honour takes place this weekend.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
I signified that I had no doubt he would take it as an honour to be asked.
From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens
Honour your joy, do not shy away from the good that is trying to reach you, do not convince yourself that you are unworthy of it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
Honour is collective, and the threat of collective shame is itself a tool of control.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026
He refused a knighthood in 1990 and was furious to discover he'd become a Companion of Honour.
From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026
Acclaimed worldwide, Britain made him a Companion of Honour in 1997.
From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026
She had nearly wore out the page erasing Enoch Rucker Blakeslee married Love Honour Simpson on July 5,1906.
From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
