honor

1 of 2

noun

hon·​or ˈä-nər 

1

a

: good name or public esteem : reputation

fought for their family's honor

b

: respect that is given to someone who is admired : recognition

was treated with honor

brought honor to the school

a guest of honor

c(1)

: high moral standards of behavior : integrity

a keen sense of honor

a man of honor

lived by a strict code of honor

(2)

: someone's word given as a guarantee of performance

On my honor, I will be there.

2

: something (such as an opportunity) that gives someone a sense of pride : privilege

had the honor of informing her that she'd won the scholarship

granted the honor of christening the ship

It was an honor to be invited.

3

: a person of superior standing

—now used especially as a title for a holder of high office

if Your Honor please

4

: one whose worth brings respect or fame : credit

an honor to the profession

5

: an indication or symbol of distinction: such as

a

: an exalted title or rank

received the honor of emeritus upon retiring

b(1)

: badge, decoration

the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom

(2)

: a ceremonial rite or observance

buried with full military honors

c

: an award in a contest or field of competition

Her debut novel won a number of honors in its first year.

d

archaic : a gesture of deference : bow

e honors plural

(1)

: an academic distinction conferred on a student who has successfully done work at a high level

graduated with honors

Latin honors

(2)

honors plural but singular in construction : a special high-level course of study for students supplementing or replacing a regular course

—usually used before another noun

taking honors math and honors French

6

old-fashioned : chastity, purity

"You've compromised your honor with a man who lives in my house. Of course this has upset me!"

—Kaitlyn Greenidge

7

honors plural : social courtesies or civilities extended by a host

asked her to do the honors

8

a(1)

: an ace, king, queen, jack, or ten especially of the trump suit in bridge

(2)

: the scoring value of honors held in bridge

—usually used in plural

b

: the privilege of playing first from the tee in golf

9

: the center point of the upper half of an armorial escutcheon

honor

2 of 2

verb

hon·​or ˈä-nər 

honored; honoring ˈä-nə-riŋ 

ˈän-riŋ

transitive verb

1

a

: to regard or treat (someone) with admiration and respect : to regard or treat with honor

raised to honor their parents

a promise to love and honor each other in marriage

honored us with her presence

b

: to give special recognition to : to confer honor on

honored as player of the year

a dinner honoring the library's centennial

2

a

: to live up to or fulfill the terms of

honor a commitment/contract/warranty

b

: to accept as payment

honor a credit card

3

: to salute with a bow in square dancing

honoree

ˌä-nə-ˈrē 

noun

honorer

ˈä-nər-ər 

noun

Synonyms of honor

Noun

• integrity
• honesty

Verb

• recognize
• thank
• celebrate
• credit
• commemorate
• congratulate

Choose the Right Synonym for honor

honor, homage, reverence, deference mean respect and esteem shown to another.

honor may apply to the recognition of one's right to great respect or to any expression of such recognition.

the nomination is an honor

homage adds the implication of accompanying praise.

paying homage to Shakespeare

reverence implies profound respect mingled with love, devotion, or awe.

great reverence for my father

deference implies a yielding or submitting to another's judgment or preference out of respect or reverence.

showed no deference to their elders

synonyms see in addition honesty

Examples of honor in a Sentence

Noun

Many of the Persians, despite belonging to the Barbarian Other, come off with honor and dignity in his pages, even during the final narrative of Xerxes' invasion. —Peter Green, New York Review of Books, 15 May 2008

Whoever footed the bill, the episode gave Marsh a taste of the grand life she yearned for. Presiding at balls in her honor and making entrances at lavish picnics were distinctions she could never have dreamed of back home. —Edmund S. Morgan et al., New York Review of Books, 27 Sept. 2007

"As I was saying," he said, smiling at the sea of students before him, all of whom were still gazing transfixed at Mad-Eye Moody, "we are to have the honor of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event that has not been held for over a century." —J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, 2000

These people deserve to be treated with honor.

The team brought honor to the school.

The building was named in honor of the city's founder.

He was prepared to fight to defend his family's honor.

She has a keen sense of honor.

He would not do it as a matter of honor.

He's a man of honor.

It was an honor to be invited.

Verb

Cape Ann, an hour's drive north of Boston, is far sleepier than the famous elbow that bounds the southern reach of Massachusetts Bay.  … There aren't any schmaltzy songs about my granite cape, which was named to honor a queen, thank you very much. —Anita Diamant, National Geographic Traveler, September 2005

But by talking with hikers and trail builders in the years since, and tracing the history these stone piles carry with them, I would learn that cairns are more than just interesting curiosities. I would discover that cairns honor the dead, save lives, mark boundaries, protect vegetation, claim territory, and reflect the seasons. —Barbara Claire Kasselmann, AMC Outdoors, May 1999

Ricketts left for Mexico to study typhus in July of that year, where it killed him in 1910 at the age of thirty-nine. To honor his memory, the organisms that cause typhus and sundry spotted fevers were dubbed rickettsia in 1916. —Wayne Biddle, A Field Guide to Germs, 1995

"Elegant Attire is a tradition in the Saratoga Clubhouse," says a sign outside the clubhouse. "Ladies and gentlemen who continue to honor this tradition (e.g., dresses, suits or sport jackets) are always appreciated." It is not easy to arbitrate good taste, particularly when the temperature is soaring toward the 90's on a humid day. —George Vecsey, New York Times, 21 Aug. 1994

When we got married, we promised to love and honor each other.

We were honored with the queen's presence.

She has been honored by several organizations for her charitable works.

We need to find an appropriate way to honor these brave people.

They have established a scholarship as a way to honor his memory.

They are accused of failing to honor their debts.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Ifeyinwa Arinze) received top honors, with cash prizes also awarded. —Clayton Davis, Variety, 3 Nov. 2025

One week after King Charles III initiated the formal process to remove the style, titles and honors of Prince Andrew, his brother's name was notably missing from the royal website. —Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2025

Verb

The announcement said the bodies would be transferred to Israel, where they will be honored in a military ceremony led by the Chief Military Rabbi. —Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025

So, Senate Democrats put an alternative on the table 12 days before September 30 that fixed the health care wreckage that the Republicans caused and that ensured that a deal would be honored, both by Congress and the White House. —ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French onur, honur, from Latin honos, honor

First Known Use

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing honor

• badge of honor/pride
• court of honor
• do (someone) the honor
• field of honor
• guard of honor
• guest of honor
• honor bound
• honor guard
• honor killing
• honor roll
• honor society
• honor system
• in honor of
• in (someone's) honor
• maid of honor
• matron of honor
• on one's honor
• place of honor
• point of honor
• redound to someone's credit/honor
• word of honor

Rhymes for honor

• conner
• honour
• wanner
• afrikaner
• dishonor

Kids Definition

honor

1 of 2 noun

hon·​or ˈän-ər 

1

a

: a good name or public admiration : reputation

b

: a showing of respect : recognition

a dinner in honor of a new coach

2

: privilege entry 1

whom have I the honor of addressing

3

a

capitalized

—used especially as a title for an official of high rank (as a judge)

if your Honor please

b

: one whose worth brings respect or fame : credit

an honor to your profession

4

a

: evidence or a symbol of great respect (as a title or medal)

b

plural : special credit or recognition given to graduating students for high achievement

also : a course of study for advanced students that is in place of or in addition to regular courses

5

a

: chastity, purity

b

: high moral standards of behavior : integrity

a person of honor

6

plural : courteous actions of a host or hostess

did the honors at the table

honor

2 of 2 verb

honored; honoring ˈän-(ə-)riŋ 

1

a

: to treat with honor : respect

honor your parents

b

: to give an honor to

2

: to fulfill the terms of

honored the contract

Legal Definition

honor

transitive verb

hon·​or

honored; honoring

1

: to accept and pay

the bank honored the check

2

: to purchase or discount (a draft) in compliance with a letter of credit