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• honourable
  honourable

  adjective

  possessing or characterized by high principles
• Honourable
  Honourable

  adjective

  (prenominal) a title of respect placed before a name: employed before the names of various officials in the English-speaking world, as a courtesy title in Britain for the children of viscounts and barons and the younger sons of earls, and in Parliament by one member speaking of another

honourable

¹ British  

/ ˈɒnərəbəl, ˈɒnrəbəl /

adjective

1. possessing or characterized by high principles

   honourable intentions

2. worthy of or entitled to honour or esteem

3. consistent with or bestowing honour

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Honourable ² British  

/ ˈɒnərəbəl, ˈɒnrəbəl /

adjective

1.  Hon.  (prenominal) a title of respect placed before a name: employed before the names of various officials in the English-speaking world, as a courtesy title in Britain for the children of viscounts and barons and the younger sons of earls, and in Parliament by one member speaking of another

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• honourably
  adverb
• honourableness
  noun

Example Sentences

First of all, there is no guarantee that his rivals in the centre-right space will do the honourable thing and step aside.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

US President Thomas Jefferson, revolutionist Francis Lewis and Griffith Jenkin Griffith, "one of the true pioneers of Los Angeles", are also given an honourable mention by Rhys thanks to their Welsh ancestry.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026

“In public life responsibility must be owned when it matters most, not just when it is most convenient. In the circumstances, the only honourable course is to step aside,” McSweeney said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 8, 2026

He added that if Gibbon "believes her decision reflects the views of local people, the appropriate and honourable course of action is to stand down and seek a fresh mandate".

From BBC • Jan. 23, 2026

Therefore, let a prince conquer and maintain the state, and his methods will always be judged honourable and praised by all.

From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli