venerable

American  

[ven-er-uh-buhl] / ˈvɛn ər ə bəl /

adjective

1. commanding respect because of great age or impressive dignity; worthy of veneration or reverence, as because of high office or noble character.

   a venerable member of Congress.

2. a title for someone proclaimed by the Roman Catholic Church to have attained the first degree of sanctity or of an Anglican archdeacon.

3. (of places, buildings, etc.) hallowed by religious, historic, or other lofty associations.

   the venerable halls of the abbey.

4. impressive or interesting because of age, antique appearance, etc..

   a venerable oak tree.

5. extremely old or obsolete; ancient.

   a venerable automobile.

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noun

1. a venerable person.

venerable British  

/ ˈvɛnərəbəl /

adjective

1. (esp of a person) worthy of reverence on account of great age, religious associations, character, position, etc

2. (of inanimate objects) hallowed or impressive on account of historical or religious association

3. ancient

   venerable tomes

4. RC Church a title bestowed on a deceased person when the first stage of his canonization has been accomplished and his holiness has been recognized in a decree of the official Church

5. Church of England a title given to an archdeacon

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Other Word Forms

• quasi-venerable
  adjective
• quasi-venerably
  adverb
• unvenerability
  noun
• unvenerable
  adjective
• unvenerableness
  noun
• unvenerably
  adverb
• venerability
  noun
• venerableness
  noun
• venerably
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of venerable

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin venerābilis, equivalent to venerā ( rī ) to venerate + -bilis -ble

Explanation

To be venerable is to be admired and respected because of your status or age. You become venerable by achieving great things or just by living long enough. The adjective venerable means "admired" and "respected" — it should describe how you feel about old folks and bosses, for example. It describes the wise old man at the top of the mountain who tells you the meaning of life. As a noun, the Venerable refers to someone high up in a religion, usually Christian. In fact, Saint Bede, who is sometimes called the Father of English History, is often referred to as Bede the Venerable.

Example Sentences

Venerable analog chip maker Texas Instruments comes into its first-quarter earnings with the company in transition.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

“My hope is, when this walk ends, the people we met will continue practicing mindfulness and find peace,” the Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra, a Vietnamese-American monk who led the march, said while passing through North Carolina.

From Salon • Feb. 13, 2026

Venerable trees from the original landscape lend maturity to the garden that otherwise would take generations to establish.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 1, 2024

One of the clergy who voted against the motion was Archdeacon of Derry the Venerable Robert Miller.

From BBC • May 25, 2024

Venerable Isaac Behndy of Ladysmith, eighty-one years old, a lay preacher of the African Native Mission Church, explained why we opted for stay-at-homes instead of strikes.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• esteemed
• grand
• revered
• stately
• venerated