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definitions

respectable

[ri-spek-tuh-buhl]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR respectable ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

worthy of respect or esteem; estimable; worthy: a respectable citizen.
of good social standing, reputation, etc.: a respectable neighborhood.
suitable or good enough to be seen or used: respectable clothes; respectable language.
of moderate excellence; fairly good; fair: a respectable performance.
appreciable in size, number, or amount: a respectable turnout.

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RELATED WORDS

satisfactory, decent, appropriate, tolerable, upright, modest, proper, honorable, mediocre, creditable, ordinary, sensible, good, sizable, reasonable, admirable, august, becoming, befitting, comely

Nearby words

  1. resp.,
  2. respawn,
  3. respect,
  4. respectability,
  5. respectability politics,
  6. respectant,
  7. respected,
  8. respecter,
  9. respectful,
  10. respectfully

Origin of respectable

First recorded in 1580–90; respect + -able
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for respectable

British Dictionary definitions for respectable

respectable

adjective

having or deserving the respect of other people; estimable; worthy
having good social standing or reputation
having socially or conventionally acceptable morals, standards, etca respectable woman
relatively or fairly good; considerablea respectable salary
fit to be seen by other people; presentable
Derived Formsrespectability or rare respectableness, nounrespectably, adverb
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
Word Origin and History for respectable

respectable

adj.

"worthy of esteem," 1580s; see respect (v.) + -able. Sense of "having an honest reputation" is from 1755. That of "occupying a fairly good position in society" is c.1800. Related: Respectably.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper