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Synonyms

reputable

American  
[rep-yuh-tuh-buhl] / ˈrɛp jə tə bəl /

adjective

  1. held in good repute; honorable; respectable; estimable.

    a reputable organization.

  2. considered to be good or acceptable usage; standard.

    reputable speech.


reputable British  
/ ˈrɛpjʊtəbəl /

adjective

  1. having a good reputation; honoured, trustworthy, or respectable

  2. (of words) acceptable as good usage; standard

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of reputable

First recorded in 1605–15; repute + -able

Explanation

Want the real scoop on your favorite singer's latest romance? Then you should probably find a more reputable source than the tabloids — meaning someone with a better reputation, in this case for telling the truth. That's the thing with reputable reputations. People know you can be trusted, that you're honest and not trying to pull one over on anybody. Reputable institutions usually have a history of excellent service or outstanding work, and always come highly recommended. Reputable used car salesmen may seem scarce. The word reputable actually has a good deal of reputability itself, since it's been in standard use since the 17th century.

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Vocabulary lists containing reputable

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.

The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis even maintains a free website where all official and reputable economic data is readily available and in chart form.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026

He was an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York, which is a very fine office, and he then worked in Big Law for some very reputable law firms.

From Slate • May 4, 2026

He says the team sources updates from reputable media publications such as Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter but does also receive anonymous tip-offs.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

When I was starting out, you couldn’t really start your career without getting music released and having music signed by a reputable label.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

I know how to identify reputable sources, but it takes some time.

From "How It Went Down" by Kekla Magoon

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