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:
“I need hardly say that the chance of working with you is the greatest honour of my life,” he wrote to Stravinsky.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
Burnham also said he will honour the fiscal rules imposed by Healey's predecessor Rachel Reeves, which include a pledge to balance day-to-day spending with tax revenues by the end of the decade.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
The Recording Academy said the new award aims to honour "artistic excellence in Asian pop music performances originating from or widely recognized within Asian markets, including but not limited to K-pop, J-pop and C-pop".
From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026
"If the government does not honour the agreement and release everyone detained or arrested, we will be compelled to resume the protest," Ashutosh Ranka, a spokesperson of the CJP told reporters.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
The poor bird had been picturing all the fights —almost certainly picturing them quite wrong: nourishing a starved heart on secondhand accounts in secret: wondering whose token was in the place of honour today.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
Acclaimed worldwide, Britain made him a Companion of Honour in 1997.
From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026
Habibti leans more towards R&B, while Maid of Honour is dance music-inspired.
From BBC ● May 22, 2026
The series has inspired memes and fashion trends, while its creator Star was honoured with the Legion of Honour by President Emmanuel Macron who praised the comedy drama for putting a spotlight on France.
From BBC ● May 21, 2026
His family was presented with an award as he was inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame's Roll of Honour.
From BBC ● Apr. 27, 2026
In a fine ladylike hand it said, Enoch Rucker Blakeslee married Love Honour Simpson in Jefferson, Georgia, 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.
