Honour - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT honour

Other forms: honoured; honours; honouring

Honour is the British English spelling of the word "honor." Honour means respect or prestige. If a teacher wants her students to treat her with honour, she has to be worthy of it, showing them the respect they deserve.

An honour is also a tangible award that you are given for some accomplishment. If your grades are great, you might receive an honour at the academic awards banquet. As a verb, honour means to show a high amount of respect. In traditional wedding vows, both the bride and groom promise to love and honour each other.

Definitions of honour

noun the quality of being honorable and having a good name synonyms: honor see moresee less type of: righteousness the quality of adhering to moral principles
noun the state of being honored synonyms: honor, laurels see moresee less types: show 10 types... hide 10 types... glorification, glory a state of high honor celebrity, fame, renown the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed esteem, regard, respect the condition of being honored (esteemed or respected or well regarded) reputation, repute the state of being held in high esteem and honor stature high level of respect gained by impressive development or achievement black eye a bad reputation stock the reputation and popularity a person has character good repute name a person's reputation fame favorable public reputation type of: standing social or financial or professional status or reputation
noun a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction synonyms: accolade, award, honor, laurels see moresee less types: show 43 types... hide 43 types... prize, trophy something given as a token of victory aliyah (Judaism) the honor of being called up to the reading desk in the synagogue to read from the Torah academic degree, degree an award conferred by a college or university signifying that the recipient has satisfactorily completed a course of study crown, pennant the award given to the champion cachet, seal, seal of approval an indication of approved or superior status citation, commendation an official award (as for bravery or service) usually given as formal public statement honorable mention, mention an official recognition of merit letter, varsity letter an award earned by participation in a school sport decoration, laurel wreath, medal, medallion, palm, ribbon an award for winning a championship or commemorating some other event trophy an award for success in war or hunting Emmy an annual award by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for outstanding achievements in television Nobel prize an annual award for outstanding contributions to chemistry or physics or physiology and medicine or literature or economics or peace Academy Award, Oscar an annual award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for achievements in motion picture production and performance Prix de Rome an annual prize awarded by the French government in a competition of painters and artists and sculptors and musicians and architects; the winner in each category receives support for a period of study in Rome Prix Goncourt an award given annually for contributions to French literature apple of discord (classical mythology) a golden apple thrown into a banquet of the gods by Eris (goddess of discord--who had not been invited); the apple had `for the fairest' written on it and Hera and Athena and Aphrodite all claimed it; when Paris (prince of Troy) awarded it to Aphrodite it began a chain of events that led to the Trojan War booby prize a prize given to one who finishes last in a contest bronze medal a trophy made of bronze (or having the appearance of bronze) that is usually awarded for winning third place in a competition cup, loving cup a large metal vessel with two handles that is awarded as a trophy to the winner of a competition gold medal a trophy made of gold (or having the appearance of gold) that is usually awarded for winning first place in a competition silver, silver medal a trophy made of silver (or having the appearance of silver) that is usually awarded for winning second place in a competition associate, associate degree a degree granted by a two-year college on successful completion of the undergraduates course of studies baccalaureate, bachelor's degree an academic degree conferred on someone who has successfully completed undergraduate studies honours, honours degree a university degree with honors master's degree an academic degree higher than a bachelor's degree but lower than a doctor's degree doctor's degree, doctorate one of the highest earned academic degrees conferred by a university law degree degree conferred on someone who successfully completes law school honorary degree, honoris causa a degree conferred to honor the recipient Congressional Medal of Honor, Medal of Honor the highest U.S. military decoration awarded for bravery and valor in action `above and beyond the call of duty' Distinguished Service Medal a United States military decoration for meritorious service in wartime duty of great responsibility Distinguished Service Cross a United States Army decoration for extraordinary heroism against an armed enemy Navy Cross a United States Navy decoration for extraordinary heroism against an armed enemy Distinguished Flying Cross a United States Air Force decoration for heroism while participating in an aerial flight Air Medal a United States Air Force decoration for meritorious achievement while participating in an aerial flight Silver Star, Silver Star Medal a United States military decoration for gallantry in action Bronze Star, Bronze Star Medal a United States military decoration awarded for meritorious service (except in aerial flight) Order of the Purple Heart, Purple Heart a United States military decoration awarded to any member of the armed forces who is wounded in action Oak Leaf Cluster a United States military decoration consisting of bronze or silver oak leaves and acorns awarded to anyone who has won a given medal before Victoria Cross a British military decoration for gallantry Distinguished Conduct Medal a British military decoration for distinguished conduct in the field Distinguished Service Order a British military decoration for special service in action Croix de Guerre a French military decoration for gallantry Medaille Militaire a French military decoration type of: symbol an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance
verb show respect towards synonyms: abide by, honor, observe, respect see moresee less types: celebrate, lionise, lionize assign great social importance to tolerate recognize and respect (rights and beliefs of others) type of: accept consider or hold as true
verb bestow honor or rewards upon synonyms: honor, reward see moresee less types: show 4 types... hide 4 types... drink, pledge, salute, toast, wassail propose a toast to dignify, ennoble confer dignity or honor upon decorate award a mark of honor, such as a medal, to give propose type of: recognise, recognize show approval or appreciation of
verb accept as pay synonyms: honor see moresee less type of: accept, have, take receive willingly something given or offered
noun a woman's virtue or chastity synonyms: honor, pureness, purity see moresee less type of: chastity, sexual morality, virtue morality with respect to sexual relations

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