# reputation

/ˌɹɛpjəˈteɪʃən/ (US) · /ɹˌɛpjuːtˈeɪʃən/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/reputation
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He has a good reputation of a hard worker." but "He has a good reputation as a hard worker." — When describing a person's role or identity, use 'as' instead of 'of'.

## Usage notes

- Often used with the prepositions 'for' (to state the reason) or 'as' (to state the role).

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.