Word
honorable
Phoneticshon·or·able
US/ˈɑnɝəbəɫ/
UK/ˈɒnəɹəbəl/
UK spelling · honourable
Definitions
01having integrity
B2 · Upper Intermediate American English
adj. honest and fair; having high moral standards that make people respect you.
adj. possessing or characterized by high moral standards and integrity. Often used to describe conduct that adheres to a strict ethical code.
“The judge was known for being an honorable man who always followed the law.”
“Choosing to admit his mistake was the only honorable course of action, even though it meant he would lose the contract.”
Pitfall
He is an honourable man.
He is an honorable man.
In American English, the word is spelled 'honorable'. The spelling 'honourable' is used in British English.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02worthy of respect
B2 · Upper Intermediate American English
adj. deserving respect or praise because of good qualities or achievements.
adj. worthy of being honored or respected; respectable in character or standing.
“Teaching is an honorable profession that helps the whole community.”
“After decades of service, he retired with an honorable record that served as an inspiration to the younger officers.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03formal title
C1 · Advanced Law American English · Formal
adj. a title used before the names of certain government officials, like judges or mayors.
adj. an honorific title used for high-ranking officials, including judges, members of Congress, and mayors. Usually capitalized when used as a title.
“The letter was addressed to the Honorable Sarah Jenkins.”
“The Honorable Justice Miller presided over the hearing, ensuring that all procedural requirements were strictly met.”
Usage
In written addresses, it is typically abbreviated as 'Hon.' followed by the full name.
04a titled person
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Politics American English · Formal
n. a person who has the official title of 'Honorable'.
n. a person, typically a politician or judge, who is entitled to the honorific 'Honorable'.
“Several honorables from the state senate attended the opening ceremony.”
“The gathering of honorables at the summit highlighted the diplomatic importance of the new trade agreement.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“The biggest winners were Alex Scott and Lewis Hall, with Myles Lewis-Skelly getting an honourable mention.” “Here are the honorable mentions from this year's Student Podcast Challenge, chosen from nearly 1,500 entries.” Etymology
From Middle English honourable, from Old French honorable, honurable, from Latin honōrābilis, from honōrō (“I honour”); cognate with Italian onorabile, Spanish honorable. By surface analysis, honor + -able. In this sense, largely displaced Old English ārfæst.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Idioms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Pre-1
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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