honorable
Americanadjective
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in accordance with or characterized by principles of honor; upright.
They were all honorable men.
- Antonyms:
- ignoble
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of high rank, dignity, or distinction; noble, illustrious, or distinguished.
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worthy of honor and high respect; estimable; creditable.
-
bringing honor or credit; consistent with honor.
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(initial capital letter)
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(used as a title of respect for certain ranking government officials.)
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British. (used as a title of courtesy for children of peers ranking below a marquis.) Hon.
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Other Word Forms
- honorableness noun
- honorably adverb
- quasi-honorable adjective
- quasi-honorably adverb
Etymology
Origin of honorable
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English hono(u)rable, from Anglo-French, from Latin honōrābilis; equivalent to honor + -able
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.
Horrible, yet honorable: Mr. Duvall’s Meechum balanced both.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026
“They’re honorable men and women, but the threats against their family are real.”
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026
She was part of a team that won a 2021 Sabew honorable mention for stories detailing fashion’s new China problem.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026
“It’s time to bring the Model S and X programs to an end with an honorable discharge,” Musk said.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 29, 2026
“Because it’s the only honorable thing to do,” I said.
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
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.
