# respectable

/ɹiˈspɛktəbəɫ/ (US) · /ɹɪspˈɛktəbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/respectable
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. socially acceptable

adjective · CEFR B2

having a good reputation and following the rules of society.

For teachers: conforming to socially acceptable standards of behaviour, appearance, or character.

- He wanted to find a respectable job so his parents would be proud of him.
- The family worked hard to maintain a respectable image in the small town, attending every local event and keeping their garden perfectly tidy.

### 2. satisfactory or large

adjective · CEFR B2

good enough or large enough to be accepted.

For teachers: fairly good in quality or large in amount; satisfactory but not necessarily excellent.

- The team finished the season in a respectable third place.
- Despite the economic downturn, the company reported a respectable profit that satisfied most of the major shareholders.

### 3. well-to-do

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

having enough money to live a comfortable, middle-class life.

For teachers: belonging to a social class that is financially secure and socially established.

- They lived in a respectable neighbourhood with large houses and quiet streets.
- The novel depicts the lives of respectable Victorian families who were terrified of losing their social standing through financial ruin.

### 4. a proper person

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

a person who has a good reputation and follows social rules.

For teachers: an individual who conforms to conventional social standards and possesses a good reputation.

- In the old days, the respectables of the town always sat in the front of the church.
- The local respectables were horrified when the young artist moved into the village and began hosting loud parties every weekend.

## Examples

- He has a respectable job in the city.
- The young couple worked hard to maintain a respectable image in their small, traditional neighborhood.
- While the team did not win the championship, they finished the season with a respectable score that reflected their significant improvement over the previous year.

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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.