reputation

noun

rep·​u·​ta·​tion ˌre-pyə-ˈtā-shən 

1

a

: overall quality or character as seen or judged by people in general

b

: recognition by other people of some characteristic or ability

has the reputation of being clever

2

: a place in public esteem or regard : good name

trying to protect his reputation

reputational

ˌre-pyə-ˈtā-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

adjective

Did you know?

For reputation, the attainment of lexical esteem begins in 14th-century Middle English in the character of reputacion, which is a borrowing of an Anglo-French word with meanings similar to the English word (referring to such things as celebrity, distinction, good name, or estimation of character). The Anglo-French is from Latin reputation-, reputatio, meaning "consideration," and ultimately from reputare, "to reckon up or to think over." That Latinate verb couples the well-known "again" prefix re- with the verb putare ("to reckon"). Renowned celebrities of the putare family are the verb repute ("to believe or consider"), the identical noun (synonymous with reputation), the adjectives reputable and reputed, and the adverb reputedly. Other putare cousins of notoriety are dispute, disreputable, imputation, and putative, along with their kin.

Synonyms

• character
• fame
• mark
• name
• note
• odor
• rep [slang]
• report
• repute

Examples of reputation in a Sentence

He has earned a reputation as a first-class playwright.

a teacher with a reputation for patience

Poor customer service has ruined the company's reputation.

Recent Examples on the Web

But as California housing values keep rising, some cities that until recently had reputations for working-class modesty are joining the list of communities with median home values more than $1 million. —Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024

That reputation is so deeply scoured into the club’s soul that Bayer Leverkusen has patented the German equivalent, Vizekusen. —Christopher F. Schuetze, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024

Brand Reputation The quality and safety of the chocolate shroom bar largely depend on the reputation of its brand. —Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024

That’s partly because cats have long had a reputation for mucking up shots and testing even the most patient of filmmakers (a notoriety that is perhaps unfair, as will be explained later). —James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Apr. 2024

Kobach, who has built a reputation as a staunch opponent of voter fraud, has staked out a position that ballots that may be evidence should be preserved. —Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024

Fiat has a dodgy reputation for quality in the United States, but brand boss Olivier Francois points out the 500e has been on sale in Europe since 2020, time to work out the bugs. —Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 10 Apr. 2024

Opened in 2007, The Curtis has developed a reputation for its whimsical interior decor. —Chadner Navarro, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2024

Despite its aggressive reputation for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, California releases more of a climate-warming pesticide than all other states combined, most of it from homes fumigated for termites, according to a study published Wednesday. —Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English reputacion, from Anglo-French, from Latin reputation-, reputatio consideration, from reputare

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing reputation

• acquire a reputation
• live up to one's reputation

Kids Definition

reputation

noun

rep·​u·​ta·​tion ˌrep-yə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: overall quality or character as seen or judged by people in general

a car with a good reputation

2

: notice by other people of some quality or ability

has the reputation of being a good tennis player

3

: a place in public regard : good name

trying to protect his reputation

Legal Definition

reputation

noun

rep·​u·​ta·​tion

: overall quality or character as seen or judged by people in general within a community see also character evidence at evidence, reputation testimony at testimony