respectable

[ ri-spek-tuh-buhl ]

adjective

1. worthy of respect or esteem; estimable; worthy:

   a respectable citizen.

   Synonyms: honorable

2. of good social standing, reputation, etc.:

   a respectable neighborhood.

3. suitable or good enough to be seen or used:

   respectable clothes; respectable language.

4. of moderate excellence; fairly good; fair:

   a respectable performance.

   Synonyms: passable, middling

5. appreciable in size, number, or amount:

   a respectable turnout.

respectable

/ rɪˈspɛktəbəl /

adjective

1. having or deserving the respect of other people; estimable; worthy
2. having good social standing or reputation
3. having socially or conventionally acceptable morals, standards, etc

   a respectable woman

4. relatively or fairly good; considerable

   a respectable salary

5. fit to be seen by other people; presentable

Derived Forms

• reˈspectably, adverb
• reˌspectaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• re·specta·ble·ness noun
• re·specta·bly adverb
• nonre·specta·ble adjective
• nonre·specta·ble·ness noun
• nonre·specta·bly adverb
• prere·specta·ble adjective
• quasi-re·specta·ble adjective
• quasi-re·specta·bly adverb
• semi·re·specta·ble adjective
• super·re·specta·ble adjective
• super·re·specta·ble·ness noun
• super·re·specta·bly adverb
• ultra·re·specta·ble adjective
• ultra·re·specta·bly adverb
• ultra·re·specta·ble·ness noun
• unre·specta·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of respectable¹

First recorded in 1580–90; respect + -able

Example Sentences

At the end of the animated Disney movie, as in nearly every version of Mulan written since that sixth-century ballad, Mulan goes back home to her family to resume her life as a daughter, and she picks up a respectable husband for herself.

From Vox

Each of the losses — against respectable competition in the Nuggets and Jazz — was by 1 point.

From FiveThirtyEight

Most ecologists of the era studied respectable animals like birds, bears or wolves, not lowly bacteria.

From Quanta Magazine

They want to cleanse him out of respectable politics like a toxin.

From Voice of San Diego

Try out these search queries for yourself and you’ll be able to build a respectable list of sites to contribute for.

From Search Engine Watch

Again, the reasoning sounds, well, reasonable, and is sourced to a respectable organization, the Samaritans.

From The Daily Beast

Quotes like these suggest myriad reasons for respectable mainstream culture to write off Coffman as one more failed American.

From The Daily Beast

In the respectable guise of religious liberty, the zombie-like Culture War soldiers on.

From The Daily Beast

Despite performing in a respectable amount of sketches for a SNL freshman throughout the season, her contract was not renewed.

From The Daily Beast

For decades, this served as a respectable front for the biggest fencing operation in the history of the country.

From The Daily Beast

You may take my word for it that pigs are far more interesting and far more respectable, though they're expensive, mind you.

From Project Gutenberg

If he married that base-born creature Dorothy, no respectable person would ever enter the house.

From Project Gutenberg

Occasionally, however, there are the most respectable family parties, including the children whom they won't be parted from.

From Project Gutenberg

Has not one with this most respectable weed, this prime havana, the concomitants of a thousand reveries?

From Project Gutenberg

He walked away, taking leave of the man as civilly as though he had been a respectable member of society.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• appropriate
• creditable
• decent
• honorable
• mediocre
• modest
• ordinary
• proper
• satisfactory
• tolerable
• upright