Word
reputation
Phoneticsrep·u·ta·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɹɛpjəˈteɪʃən/
UK/ɹˌɛpjuːtˈeɪʃən/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. the opinion that people have about someone or something. It is based on what has happened in the past and tells you if a person is trusted or liked.
n. the beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something. Often functions as a collective judgment of character or quality based on past behavior.
Examples
“The restaurant has a great reputation for fresh seafood.”
“After years of honest work, the lawyer built a reputation for being fair to everyone in the community.”
“A company's reputation can take decades to establish through consistent quality, yet it can be destroyed in a single afternoon by a poorly handled public relations crisis.”
Examples
simple
“The restaurant has a great reputation for fresh seafood.”
contextual
“After years of honest work, the lawyer built a reputation for being fair to everyone in the community.”
complex
“A company's reputation can take decades to establish through consistent quality, yet it can be destroyed in a single afternoon by a poorly handled public relations crisis.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “reputation” in context.
Verb
01. build a reputation
“The young chef worked hard to build a reputation for innovative cooking.”
verb + noun
02. damage your reputation
“Spreading false rumors can seriously damage your reputation in the community.”
verb + possessive + noun
03. live up to your reputation
“The hotel lived up to its reputation by providing excellent service.”
verb + prep + possessive + noun
04. protect your reputation
“The company hired a PR firm to protect its reputation during the crisis.”
verb + possessive + noun
Adjective
05. stellar reputation
“The law firm has a stellar reputation for winning difficult cases.”
adj + noun
06. tarnished reputation
“The politician struggled to win the election with a tarnished reputation.”
adj + noun
Preposition
07. by reputation
“I only know the professor by reputation, but I hear his lectures are fascinating.”
prep + noun
Usage
Often used with the prepositions 'for' (to state the reason) or 'as' (to state the role).
Pitfall
He has a good reputation of a hard worker.
He has a good reputation as a hard worker.
When describing a person's role or identity, use 'as' instead of 'of'.
Real-World Examples
“The subsequent falling out between the pair resulted in a highly publicized murder trial that would destroy what was left of Evans’s reputation (at least until his unlikely third-act reinvention 20 years later).” “A pro-shot probably would have more easily preserved the material’s reputation as an all-timer with the general public.” “He enjoyed his reputation as a Salford legend and when he retired he sent local friends and contacts a postcard of a solitary horseman in a desert landscape.” Etymology
14c. "credit, good reputation", from Middle English reputacion, reputacioun, reputation, reputatioun, from Anglo-Norman reputacion, reputacioun, Middle French reputation (French réputation), and their etymon Latin reputātiōnem (“consideration, thinking over”), noun of action from past participle stem of reputō (“reflect upon, reckon, count over”), from the prefix re- (“again”) + putō (“reckon, consider”). By surface analysis, repute + -ation. Displaced native Old English hlīsa (“reputation, fame”)
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Related words
- 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 C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/reputation