reputation

American  

[rep-yuh-tay-shuhn] / ˌrɛp jəˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

• reputations
  plural

1. 

   the estimation in which a person or thing is held, especially by the community or the public generally; repute.

   a man of good reputation.

   Synonyms:

   name, regard

2. favorable repute; good name.

   to ruin one's reputation by misconduct.

   Synonyms:

   recognition, honor, esteem, renown, distinction, fame

   Antonyms:

   disrepute

3. a favorable and publicly recognized name or standing for merit, achievement, reliability, etc..

   to build up a reputation.

4. the estimation or name of being, having, having done, etc., something specified.

   He has the reputation of being a shrewd businessman.

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reputation British  

/ ˌrɛpjʊˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the estimation in which a person or thing is generally held; opinion

2. a high opinion generally held about a person or thing; esteem

3. notoriety or fame, esp for some specified characteristic

4. to be known or notorious, esp for promiscuity, excessive drinking, or the like

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Usage

What does reputation mean? A reputation is the opinion people or a wider community have of a person, group of people, company, or similar, as in The restaurant had a reputation for slow service but excellent food. A reputation is also someone’s favorable standing in the community, as in Stella protected her business’s reputation by always giving excellent customer service. A reputation also means being known for something. In this sense, you can have a good reputation or a bad one, as in Hanging around with violent gangs will get you a reputation. Note that reputation is different from character. Your reputation is what other people think of you, while your character is your internal qualities. A reputation is often about perception, which means it’s not always factual. Knowing where a reputation comes from can help you determine if it’s deserved or not. Example: The university had a reputation for turning out influential artists.

Synonym Usage

Reputation, character are often confused. Reputation, however, is the word which refers to the position one occupies or the standing that one has in the opinion of others, in respect to attainments, integrity, and the like: a fine reputation; a reputation for honesty. Character is the combination of moral and other traits which make one the kind of person one actually is (as contrasted with what others think of one): Honesty is an outstanding trait of his character. See credit.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• self-reputation
  noun
• reputational
  adjective
• reputationless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• reputations
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of reputation

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English reputacioun, from Latin reputātiōn-, stem of reputātiō “computation, consideration,” from reputāt(us) “computed, considered” (past participle of reputāre “to compute, consider”; see repute) + -iō -ion

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Explanation

Your reputation is the general belief or opinion that other people have about you. If you are considered trustworthy and kind, you have a good reputation. Reputation comes from the Latin word reputationem, which means "consideration." It's how people consider, or label, you — good or bad. The noun reputation can also mean "being known for having a specific skill or characteristic." For example, if you have a reputation in snow shoveling, your phone will soon be ringing off the hook with your lazy neighbors calling.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

reputation reputations

Here are some unique candy options that will upgrade your Halloween reputation among the neighbors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026

“From a reputation point of view, Musk does need this one to be a hit.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

Samantha Thompson, who represented Armstrong and Spofforth, a businesswoman from the Chester area, said the pair "apologise to the claimant for the serious harm to his reputation and his distress".

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

As the city has continued to grow, it has earned a reputation for its distinct brand of laid-back luxury, offering residents a bustling culture, mild weather, and a reasonably-priced cost of living.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

Franklins reputation served as the catalyst in an exchange, as Smith of South Carolina attempted to discredit his views by observing that “even great men have their senile moments.”

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

That self-awareness has made their late-period work all too stodgy, selecting roles clearly informed by their notable reputations.

From Salon ● Oct. 9, 2026

It also can waste police resources and damage reputations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

"His judgment is a devastating critique of an attempt to destroy a newspaper and the reputations of its journalists, editors and executives," the statement added.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

It is impossible to precisely predict colleges’ admission rates in the future as those numbers depend on a lot of things, including the reputations of campus culture, sports team wins and even the weather.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

“I’m glad I can take a detached view of this. The pants of their reputations must have some thin places. Morally, then, you would be against giving her the money?”

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

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Related Words

• character
• fame
• honor
• influence
• name
• notoriety
• opinion
• position
• prestige
• prominence
• standing
• stature

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