honour
Verbhonours, honouring, honoured
Noun pluralhonours
US spellinghonor
Formshonours, honouring, honoured
Pluralhonours
- 1To respect someone or something very much, or to show great respect for them.
Every year we honour the people from our town who died in the war.
In her religion, people honour the river as holy.
UsageWrite honoured and honouring. In America it is usually honor.
Similarrespect, revere, commemorate, esteem, venerate
Oppositedisrespect, despise
- 2
- 3A prize, title or medal given to someone to show respect for what they have done.
The soldier got an honour for saving his friends.
She has won many honours in her years as a doctor.
UsageSay someone got an honour or won many honours.
Similaraward, distinction, accolade, decoration
Note
- 4Something special you are allowed to do or have, which makes you feel proud.
It is an honour to sing at your wedding.
Meeting the author was a real honour for the whole class.
UsageSay an honour (not
incorrect: a honour), because the h is silent. It's an honour to meet you.Similarprivilege, pleasure, distinction
- 5Great respect that people show someone, often because they are good or have done well.
The town held a party in honour of its oldest resident.
In our family, Grandad's name is always spoken with honour.
UsageSay in honour of someone: a party in honour of Gran.
Similarrespect, esteem, regard, reverence
Oppositedisrespect, contempt
Note
- 6Being honest, fair and good, and the good name and respect that this gives you.
He is a man of honour who always tells the truth.
The team would not cheat because they cared about their honour.
UsageSay a person of honour, someone who is honest and fair.
Similarintegrity, dignity, reputation, decency, honesty
- 7
- 8A university degree of a higher level than an ordinary or pass degree, or the course you study to get it.
My sister got honours in maths.
He is doing honours in English at university.
UsageSay with honours and an honours degree, with an s.
Less common meanings
- 9
- 10A person or thing that makes others proud and brings them respect.
You are an honour to this family.
That young striker is an honour to the club.
UsageSay someone is an honour to their family or school.
Oppositedisgrace, embarrassment
- 11In golf, the right to take the first shot from the tee, before the other player.
She won the last hole, so she has the honour and hits first.
Who has the honour on this hole?
UsageSay I have the honour or it's your honour.
Note
- 12The special right to be the one who goes first.
You can have the honours and go first.
The youngest player always gets the honours and throws the dice first.
UsageSay you can have the honours, with an s.
Note
- 13Used to promise that you are telling the truth, or to ask someone to answer truthfully.
“Not a ha’porth. Different gangs and different ships. He was tried again for prison breaking, and got made a Lifer.” “And was that—Honour!—the only time you worked out, in this part of the country?” “The only time.”
1861, Charles Dickens, Great ExpectationsNote
- 14In card games, one of the top cards: an ace, king, queen or jack, and in bridge also a ten.
I had three honours in my hand, so I felt lucky.
Is the ten an honour in this game?
Note
- 15In the game mahjong, a tile that shows a dragon or a wind.
- 16In the old law of land, a large estate a lord held from the king, with smaller estates under it.
- 17In the design of coats of arms, the middle point of the top half of the shield.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
From French, from the Latin word honor.
Checked 4 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
- Honour comes through French from Latin honor. en.wiktionary.org