respectable

[ ri-spek-tuh-buhl ]

/ rɪˈspɛk tə bəl /

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.

Nearby words

resp., respawn, respect, respectability, respectability politics, respectable, respectant, respecter, respectful, respecting, respective

Origin of respectable

First recorded in 1580–90; respect + -able

SYNONYMS FOR respectable

1 honorable.

4 middling, passable.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR respectable ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

re·spect·a·ble·ness, nounre·spect·a·bly, adverbnon·re·spect·a·ble, adjectivenon·re·spect·a·ble·ness, noun

non·re·spect·a·bly, adverbpre·re·spect·a·ble, adjectivequa·si-re·spect·a·ble, adjectivequa·si-re·spect·a·bly, adverbsem·i·re·spect·a·ble, adjectivesu·per·re·spect·a·ble, adjectivesu·per·re·spect·a·ble·ness, nounsu·per·re·spect·a·bly, adverbul·tra·re·spect·a·ble, adjectiveul·tra·re·spect·a·bly, adverbul·tra·re·spect·a·ble·ness, nounun·re·spect·a·ble, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for respectable

Again, the reasoning sounds, well, reasonable, and is sourced to a respectable organization, the Samaritans.
Cover-Ups and Concern Trolls: Actually, It's About Ethics in Suicide Journalism|Arthur Chu|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Quotes like these suggest myriad reasons for respectable mainstream culture to write off Coffman as one more failed American.
The FBI’s Bogus ISIS Bust|James Poulos|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the respectable guise of religious liberty, the zombie-like Culture War soldiers on.
RFRA Madness: What’s Next for Anti-Democratic ‘Religious Exemptions’|Jay Michaelson|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Despite performing in a respectable amount of sketches for a SNL freshman throughout the season, her contract was not renewed.
The Casual Genius of Jenny Slate: ‘Marcel the Shell,’ ‘Obvious Child,’ and the Ghost of ‘SNL’|Kevin Fallon|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST

For decades, this served as a respectable front for the biggest fencing operation in the history of the country.
Meet 'The Queen of Thieves' Marm Mandelbaum, New York City's First Mob Boss|J. North Conway|September 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Good sense, a respectable education, and a pure heart, are the great requisitions.
The Young Maiden|A. B. (Artemas Bowers) Muzzey
M. Talleyrand was enjoying his rubber, when the conversation turned on the recent union of an elderly lady of respectable rank.
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction|Various
For be it known that they house "respectable" people only, those that have limited families and can pay a high rental.
London's Underworld|Thomas Holmes
Kentucky has failed to produce and maintain a respectable literary magazine for any considerable length of time.
Kentucky in American Letters, v. 1 of 2|John Wilson Townsend
It is a melancholy result of civilization that the “most respectable women are the most oppressed.”
Mary Wollstonecraft|Elizabeth Robins Pennell

British Dictionary definitions for respectable

respectable

/ (rɪˈspɛktəbəl) /

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 Forms

respectability 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