English Reference

Word

dishonor

Phoneticsdis·hon·or

/dɪˈsɑnɝ/

UK spelling · dishonour

Definition

n. a feeling of shame or a loss of respect. It can also mean a formal punishment for breaking a law or a promise.

n. a state of shame or loss of respect; also refers to a formal punishment or a legal penalty for a breach of trust or law.

Examples

“He felt a deep sense of dishonor after his mistake.”

“The athlete was stripped of his medals and faced a period of dishonor for using banned substances.”

“The legal system views the act of perjury as a severe breach of the court's integrity, resulting in a sentence of dishonor that affects the defendant's future career prospects.”

Examples

simple

“He felt a deep sense of dishonor after his mistake.”

contextual

“The athlete was stripped of his medals and faced a period of dishonor for using banned substances.”

complex

“The legal system views the act of perjury as a severe breach of the court's integrity, resulting in a sentence of dishonor that affects the defendant's future career prospects.”

Real-World Examples

“Justice Jonathan Bliss lambasted McCormick, using words like “disgrace and dishonour.” Four other charges were kicked to the curb.”
Toronto Sun · 27 Sept 2026
“I don’t want to disbelieve them because that would dishonor the gift that they’ve given me by investing in my work and by bringing their deepest selves to it.”
The Guardian · 23 Sept 2026

Etymology

From Old French deshonor, equivalent to dis- + honor.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domain

Law

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/dishonor

English Reference