English Reference
Adjective

reputable

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈɹɛpjətəbəɫ/ UK /ɹˈɛpjuːtəbəl/ rep·utable

adj.having a good reputation. You use this to describe a person or business that people trust because they are honest and do good work.

adj.having a consistently positive reputation; considered to be honest, reliable, or of good quality. Often used to qualify businesses, sources, or professionals.


SIMPLE

You should always buy from a reputable dealer.

CONTEXTUAL

Before hiring a contractor for the renovation, she checked online reviews to ensure the company was reputable.

COMPLEX

Academic researchers must ensure they cite data only from reputable journals to maintain the integrity of their own findings and avoid spreading misinformation.

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem'.

He adds that the government wants to help all the reputable providers "survive", and to guard against any informal "bad competition".

BBC News· 8 Sept 2026

From repute + -able.

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

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated