respectable
Americanadjective
-
worthy of respect or esteem; estimable; worthy.
a respectable citizen.
- Synonyms:
- honorable
-
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.
adjective
-
having or deserving the respect of other people; estimable; worthy
-
having good social standing or reputation
-
having socially or conventionally acceptable morals, standards, etc
a respectable woman
-
relatively or fairly good; considerable
a respectable salary
-
fit to be seen by other people; presentable
Other Word Forms
- nonrespectable adjective
- nonrespectableness noun
- nonrespectably adverb
- prerespectable adjective
- quasi-respectable adjective
- quasi-respectably adverb
- respectability noun
- respectableness noun
- respectably adverb
- semirespectable adjective
- superrespectable adjective
- superrespectableness noun
- superrespectably adverb
- ultrarespectable adjective
- ultrarespectableness noun
- ultrarespectably adverb
- unrespectable adjective
Etymology
Origin of respectable
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 move is risky, and it will be quarrelsome — especially for those who still see Zendaya as an idyllic Disney star, despite her respectable penchant for complicated characters.
From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026
"My father was a hard-working man doing a respectable job," Hoque said.
From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026
"This is a job that is more difficult than it looks. Claudia, despite her self-mockery and nerves, put in a respectable first shift," she wrote.
From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026
In spite of that, the economy grew a respectable 2.2% last year.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026
There is another possible reason why the word ‘fact’ suddenly became respectable.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
