Honor — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈä-nər/ hon·or

Meaning & Definition of Honor

Honor (noun)

  1. good name or public esteem, reputation
  2. respect that is given to someone who is admired, recognition
  3. high moral standards of behavior, integrity

Honor (verb)

  1. to regard or treat (someone) with admiration and respect, to regard or treat with honor
  2. to give special recognition to, to confer honor on
  3. to live up to or fulfill the terms of

Honor (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to show appreciation, respect, or affection for (someone) with a public celebration

    "the newlyweds were honored with a dinner given by the bride's grandmother"

    similar: fete, recognize
    related: acknowledge, cite, commend, compliment, credit, thank, extol, glorify, laud, praise, tout, acclaim, applaud, cheer, hail, laureate, salute, celebrate, commemorate, memorialize, observe, congratulate, felicitate
    near: discredit, disgrace, dishonor, humble, humiliate, shame, bad-mouth, defame, libel, malign, slander, boo, hiss, hoot, jeer, censure, condemn, damn, denounce, reprobate, mock, put down, ridicule, slight

Honor (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. faithfulness to high moral standards

    "the mayor, a man of honor, never broke a promise to the voters"

    similar: honesty, integrity, probity, rectitude, righteousness, uprightness
    related: blamelessness, character, conscientiousness, decency, fairness, high-mindedness, incorruptibility, irreproachability, irreproachableness, justice, morality, nobility, reputability, respectability, right-mindedness, scrupulousness, virtue, virtuousness
    opposite: baseness, dishonor, lowness
    near: corruptibility, corruption, corruptness, debasement, debauchery, decadence, degeneracy, degradation, depravity, disgrace, disgracefulness, disreputableness, dissipatedness, dissipation, dissoluteness, looseness, perversion, pervertedness, profligacy, shamelessness, venality, blameworthiness, criminality, crookedness, dishonesty, immorality, unrighteousness, unscrupulousness, knavery, rascality, roguishness, meanness, reprehensibleness, rottenness, sinfulness, vileness, villainy, wickedness, wretchedness

  2. an asset that brings praise or renown

    "a dedicated, caring teacher who is an honor to the teaching profession"

    similar: boast, credit, crown jewel, glory, jewel, pride, treasure, trophy, a feather in one's cap
    related: pièce de résistance, showpiece, attraction, feature, highlight, distinction, excellence, merit, value, virtue
    near: disgrace, dishonor, blemish, blot, defect, shame, slur, smirch, smudge, stain, stigma, eyesore, fright, horror, mess

  3. public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement

    "the honor we give to our soldiers on Veterans Day"

    similar: acclaim, accolade, applause, bay(s), credit, distinction, glory, homage, kudos, laud, laurels, props (slang), réclame, sun
    related: celebrity, fame, renown, repute, compliment, encomium, eulogy, panegyric, toast, tribute, acclamation, ovation, plaudit, praise, rave, rhapsody, citation, commendation, kudo, note, recommendation, elevation, enshrinement, enthronement, exaltation, glorification

  4. something given in recognition of achievement

    "has received several honors from the Boy Scouts for his many years of service"

    similar: accolade, award, blue ribbon, decoration, distinction, kudo, plume, premium, prize
    related: badge, crown, cup, laurel, medal, order, plaque, plate, ribbon, trophy, applause, bravo, encomium, eulogy, hallelujah, homage, paean, panegyric, plaudit, tribute, citation, commendation, compliment, honorable mention

  5. something granted as a special favor

    "it will be an honor for me to show your aunt around the city"

    similar: appanage, boon, concession, privilege
    related: courtesy, claim, entitlement, right, birthright, perquisite, prerogative, charter, grant, patent, exemption, immunity, waiver
    near: burden, duty, obligation, responsibility

Related Entry: Honor guard (noun)

Honor guard is a different word from Honor. The synonyms below are for honor guard, not for honor.

  1. as in defender, escort

    similar: bodyguard, convoy, defender, escort, custodian, guard, guardian, keeper, lookout, minder, picket, sentinel, sentry, warden, warder, watch, watcher, watchman, observer, patrol, spotter, surveillant, watchdog, gatekeeper, hack (slang)

Related Entry: Honor guards (noun)

Honor guards is a different word from Honor. The synonyms below are for honor guards, not for honor.

  1. as in defenders, escorts

    similar: bodyguards, convoys, defenders, escorts, custodians, guardians, guards, keepers, lookouts, minders, pickets, sentinels, sentries, wardens, warders, watchers, watches, watchmen, observers, patrols, spotters, surveillants, watchdogs, gatekeepers, hacks (slang)

Related Entry: Field of honor (phrase)

Field of honor is a different word from Honor. The synonyms below are for field of honor, not for honor.

  1. a place where a battle takes place

    "Officials memorialized the old field of honor with a monument."

    similar: battlefield, battleground, field
    related: battle line, front, front line, ground, beachhead, bridgehead, foothold, killing field

Related Entry: Fields of honor (phrase)

Fields of honor is a different word from Honor. The synonyms below are for fields of honor, not for honor.

  1. a place where a battle takes place

    "Officials memorialized the old field of honor with a monument."

    similar: battlefields, battlegrounds, fields
    related: battle lines, front lines, fronts, grounds, beachheads, bridgeheads, footholds, killing fields

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Honor

The most common words with a similar meaning to Honor:

Slang: props
fete, recognize, honesty, integrity, probity, rectitude, righteousness, uprightness, boast, credit, crown jewel, glory, jewel, pride, treasure, trophy, acclaim, accolade, applause, bay(s), distinction, homage, kudos, laud, laurels, réclame, sun, award, blue ribbon, decoration, kudo, plume, premium, prize, appanage, boon, concession, privilege, a feather in one's cap

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Honor

Words with the opposite meaning of Honor:

baseness, dishonor, lowness

Related Words for Honor

acknowledge, cite, commend, compliment, thank, extol, glorify, praise, tout, applaud, cheer, hail, laureate, salute, celebrate, commemorate, memorialize, observe, congratulate, felicitate, blamelessness, character, conscientiousness, decency, fairness, high-mindedness, incorruptibility, irreproachability, irreproachableness, justice

Near Antonyms of Honor

discredit, disgrace, humble, humiliate, shame, bad-mouth, defame, libel, malign, slander, boo, hiss, hoot, jeer, censure, condemn, damn, denounce, reprobate, mock, put down, ridicule, slight, corruptibility, corruption, corruptness, debasement, debauchery, decadence, degeneracy

Word Forms of Honor

Inflections: honored, honoring

Derived words: honoree (noun), honorer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Honor

Middle English, from Anglo-French onur, honur, from Latin honos, honor

First known use: 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Honor

Words & Phrases Containing Honor

honor guard, honor killing, honor roll, honor society, honor system, honor bound, court of honor

Frequently Asked Questions about Honor

What does "Honor" mean?

"Honor" means good name or public esteem, reputation. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: good name or public esteem, reputation. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Honor"?

Other words for "Honor" include fete, recognize, honesty, integrity, probity, rectitude, righteousness and uprightness. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Honor" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Honor"?

There are 135 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Honor". Common alternatives include fete, recognize, honesty, integrity, probity, rectitude, righteousness, uprightness, boast and credit.

What is the opposite of "Honor"?

Antonyms of "Honor" include baseness, dishonor and lowness. Near antonyms include discredit, disgrace, humble and humiliate.

How do you use "Honor" in a sentence?

Examples of "Honor" in a sentence: "the newlyweds were honored with a dinner given by the bride's grandmother"; "the mayor, a man of honor, never broke a promise to the voters"; "a dedicated, caring teacher who is an honor to the teaching profession".

Is "Honor" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Honor" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Honor" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Honor" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Honor"?

"Honor" is pronounced /ˈä-nər/ and divided into syllables as hon·or.