respectable

[ri-spek-tuh-buhl]

adjective

1. worthy of respect or esteem; estimable; worthy.

   a respectable citizen.

   Synonyms: honorable

2. of good social standing, reputation, etc..

   a respectable neighborhood.

3. suitable or good enough to be seen or used.

   respectable clothes; respectable language.

4. of moderate excellence; fairly good; fair.

   a respectable performance.

   Synonyms: passable, middling

5. appreciable in size, number, or amount.

   a respectable turnout.

respectable

/ rɪˈspɛktəbəl /

adjective

1. having or deserving the respect of other people; estimable; worthy

2. having good social standing or reputation

3. having socially or conventionally acceptable morals, standards, etc

   a respectable woman

4. relatively or fairly good; considerable

   a respectable salary

5. fit to be seen by other people; presentable

Other Word Forms

• respectableness noun
• respectably adverb
• nonrespectable adjective
• nonrespectableness noun
• nonrespectably adverb
• prerespectable adjective
• quasi-respectable adjective
• quasi-respectably adverb
• semirespectable adjective
• superrespectable adjective
• superrespectableness noun
• superrespectably adverb
• ultrarespectable adjective
• ultrarespectably adverb
• ultrarespectableness noun
• unrespectable adjective
• respectability noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of respectable¹

First recorded in 1580–90; respect + -able

Example Sentences

Canned crescent dough, improbably, was just right: pliable without tearing, sturdy without getting tough, and still capable of a respectable rise.

From Salon

From 33 caps, he has a respectable average of 32 at a strike-rate of 115, though before he was dropped there was a feeling he was going too hard for 50-over cricket.

From BBC

"And if he wants a respectable relationship with the Scottish government he should go to the House of Commons and apologise for what he said."

From BBC

Once the Communists took over Russia, they vastly increased the literacy of the largely peasant population, industrialized the country, poured money into scientific research and fostered a respectable number of Nobel Prize winners.

From Salon

Alyce earns what she describes as a "respectable" wage - even as one of the smaller names in the scene.

From BBC

Related Words

• appropriate 
• creditable 
• decent 
• honorable 
• mediocre 
• modest 
• ordinary 
• proper 
• satisfactory 
• tolerable 
• upright