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  honour

  noun

  honor.
• Honour
  Honour

honour

American  

[on-er] / ˈɒn ər /

noun

Chiefly British.

1. honor.

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honour ¹ British  

/ ˈɒnə /

noun

1. personal integrity; allegiance to moral principles

2. 1. fame or glory

   2. a person or thing that wins this for another

      he is an honour to the school

3. (often plural) great respect, regard, esteem, etc, or an outward sign of this

4. (often plural) high or noble rank

5. a privilege or pleasure

   it is an honour to serve you

6. a woman's virtue or chastity

7. 1. bridge poker any of the top five cards in a suit or any of the four aces at no trumps

   2. whist any of the top four cards

8. golf the right to tee off first

9. 1. to pay homage to

   2. to be a credit to

10. 1. to serve as host or hostess

    2. to perform a social act, such as carving meat, proposing a toast, etc

11. slang:school an exclamation pledging honour

12. under a moral obligation

13. out of respect for

14. on the pledge of one's word or good name

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verb

1. to hold in respect or esteem

2. to show courteous behaviour towards

3. to worship

4. to confer a distinction upon

5. to accept and then pay when due (a cheque, draft, etc)

6. to keep (one's promise); fulfil (a previous agreement)

7. to bow or curtsy to (one's dancing partner)

Honour ² British  

/ ˈɒnə /

noun

1. 1. a title used to or of certain judges

   2. (in Ireland) a form of address in general use

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Spelling

See -or ¹.

Other Word Forms

• honourer
  noun
• honourless
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of honour

C12: from Old French onor, from Latin honor esteem

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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

See Examples For:

honour Honour

“What is honour? A word. What is in that word ‘honour’?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 8, 2026

A guard of honour lined up at the airport, where Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, welcomed Erdogan and his wife Emine.

From Barron's ● Nov. 8, 2026

Some 25,000 demonstrators, many chanting support and waving pre-revolutionary Iranian flags, greeted Reza Pahlavi as he turned up in the German city to be handed the honour, according to a police estimate.

From Barron's ● Nov. 7, 2026

Paoletta added that the arch would honour the nation, its veterans and "provide the sacred ground of Arlington National Cemetery with the monumental gateway it deserves".

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

‘He was a prince, won his wife in a chariot race. Supposedly he started the Olympic games in honour of that.’

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

Honour your joy, do not shy away from the good that is trying to reach you, do not convince yourself that you are unworthy of it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

But, during his sentencing remarks, His Honour Judge Paul Farrer KC, said he did not accept Allen's judgement was impaired at the time and said he had abused a position of trust.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

Instead, Swift's brother Austin Swift served as her Man of Honour and retired American footballer Jason Kelce was the groom's Best Man.

From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026

Acclaimed worldwide, Britain made him a Companion of Honour in 1997.

From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026

She had nearly wore out the page erasing Enoch Rucker Blakeslee married Love Honour Simpson on July 5,1906.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns

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