honor

[on-er] /ˈɒn ər/
noun
1.
honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions:
a man of honor.
2.
a source of credit or distinction:
to be an honor to one's family.
3.
high respect, as for worth, merit, or rank:
to be held in honor.
4.
such respect manifested:
a memorial in honor of the dead.
5.
high public esteem; fame; glory:
He has earned his position of honor.
6.
the privilege of being associated with or receiving a favor from a respected person, group, organization, etc.:
to have the honor of serving on a prize jury; I have the honor of introducing this evening's speaker.
7.
Usually, honors. evidence, as a special ceremony, decoration, scroll, or title, of high rank, dignity, or distinction:
political honors; military honors.
8.
(initial capital letter) a deferential title of respect, especially for judges and mayors (preceded by His, Her, Your, etc.).
9.
honors.
  1. special rank or distinction conferred by a university, college, or school upon a student for eminence in scholarship or success in some particular subject.
  2. an advanced course of study for superior students.
    Compare honors course.
10.
chastity or purity in a woman.
11.
Also called honor card. Cards.
  1. Bridge. any of the five highest trump cards, as an ace, king, queen, jack, or ten in the trump suit, or any of the four aces in a no-trump contract.
    Compare honor trick.
  2. Whist. any of the four highest trump cards, as an ace, king, queen, or jack in the trump suit.
12.
Golf. the privilege of teeing off before the other player or side, given after the first hole to the player or side that won the previous hole.
verb (used with object)
13.
to hold in honor or high respect; revere:
to honor one's parents.
14.
to treat with honor.
15.
to confer honor or distinction upon:
The university honored him with its leadership award.
16.
to worship (the Supreme Being).
17.
to show a courteous regard for:
to honor an invitation.
18.
Commerce. to accept or pay (a draft, check, etc.):
All credit cards are honored here.
19.
to accept as valid and conform to the request or demands of (an official document).
20.
(in square dancing) to meet or salute with a bow.
adjective
21.
of, pertaining to, or noting honor.
Idioms
22.
be on / upon one's honor, to accept and acknowledge personal responsibility for one's actions:
West Point cadets are on their honor not to cheat on an exam.
23.
do honor to,
  1. to show respect to.
  2. to be a credit to:
    Such good students would do honor to any teacher.
24.
do the honors, to serve or preside as host, as in introducing people, or carving or serving at table:
Father did the honors at the family Thanksgiving dinner.
Also, especially British, honour.
Origin
1150-1200; (noun) Middle English (h)on(o)ur < Anglo-French (Old French (h)onor, onur) < Latin honōr- (stem of honor, earlier honōs); (v.) Middle English < Anglo-French (h)on(o)urer < Latin honōrāre, derivative of honor
Related forms
honorer, noun
honorless, adjective
overhonor, verb (used with object)
rehonor, verb (used with object)
self-honored, adjective
unhonored, adjective
Synonyms
1. probity, uprightness. Honor, honesty, integrity, sincerity refer to the highest moral principles and the absence of deceit or fraud. Honor denotes a fine sense of, and a strict conformity to, what is considered morally right or due: a high sense of honor; on one's honor. Honesty denotes the presence of probity and particularly the absence of deceit or fraud, especially in business dealings: uncompromising honesty and trustworthiness. Integrity indicates a soundness of moral principle that no power or influence can impair: a man of unquestioned integrity and dependability. Sincerity implies absence of dissimulation or deceit, and a strong adherence to truth: His sincerity was evident in every word. 3. deference, homage; reverence, veneration. Honor, consideration, distinction refer to the regard in which one is held by others. Honor suggests a combination of liking and respect: His colleagues held him in great honor. Consideration suggests honor because of proved worth: a man worthy of the highest consideration. Distinction suggests particular honor because of qualities or accomplishments: She achieved distinction as a violinist at an early age. 5. distinction. 13. esteem, venerate.
Antonyms
1. dishonor, dishonesty.
Examples from the web for honor
  • They served their country with honor and dignity.
  • Nearly every profession publicly honors its top performers with an award.
  • He is striving to honor the history of his people by being a warrior.
  • So give respect and honor to him, and it will be returned to you.
  • Sure, it's an honor just to be nominated.
  • Institutions that approach the problem of plagiarism as a matter of morality often create honor codes.
  • They tell stories of people losing their land, their lives, their honor
  • The company said it will honor all existing contracts.
  • They seek intelligence, honor, and a keen sense of public interest and public welfare.
  • He's a recipient of the medal of honor.
British Dictionary definitions for honor

honor

/ˈɒnə/
noun, verb
1.
the US spelling of honour

honour

/ˈɒnə/
noun
1.
personal integrity; allegiance to moral principles
2.
  1. fame or glory
  2. a person or thing that wins this for another: he is an honour to the school
3.
(often pl) great respect, regard, esteem, etc, or an outward sign of this
4.
(often pl) high or noble rank
5.
a privilege or pleasure: it is an honour to serve you
6.
a woman's virtue or chastity
7.
  1. (bridge, poker) any of the top five cards in a suit or any of the four aces at no trumps
  2. (whist) any of the top four cards
8.
(golf) the right to tee off first
9.
do honour to
  1. to pay homage to
  2. to be a credit to
10.
do the honours
  1. to serve as host or hostess
  2. to perform a social act, such as carving meat, proposing a toast, etc
11.
(Brit, school slang) honour bright, an exclamation pledging honour
12.
in honour bound, under a moral obligation
13.
in honour of, out of respect for
14.
on one's honour, upon one's honour, on the pledge of one's word or good name
verb (transitive)
15.
to hold in respect or esteem
16.
to show courteous behaviour towards
17.
to worship
18.
to confer a distinction upon
19.
to accept and then pay when due (a cheque, draft, etc)
20.
to keep (one's promise); fulfil (a previous agreement)
21.
to bow or curtsy to (one's dancing partner)
See also honours
Derived Forms
honourer, (US) honorer, noun
honourless, (US) honorless, adjective
Word Origin
C12: from Old French onor, from Latin honor esteem
Word Origin and History for honor
n.

c.1200, "glory, renown, fame earned," from Anglo-French honour, Old French honor (Modern French honneur), from Latin honorem (nominative honos, later honor) "honor, dignity, office, reputation," of unknown origin. Till 17c., honour and honor were equally frequent; the former now preferred in England, the latter in U.S. by influence of Noah Webster's spelling reforms. Meaning "a woman's chastity" first attested late 14c. Honors "distinction in scholarship" attested by 1782. Honor roll in the scholastic sense attested by 1872. To do the honors (1650s) originally meant the customary civilities and courtesies at a public entertainment, etc.

v.

mid-13c., honuren, "to do honor to," from Old French honorer, from Latin honorare, from honor (see honor (n.)). In the commercial sense of "accept a bill due, etc.," it is recorded from 1706. Related: Honored; honoring.

A custom more honoured in the breach than the observance. Whoever will look up the passage (Hamlet I. iv. 16) will see that it means, beyond a doubt, a custom that one deserves more honour for breaking than for keeping: but it is often quoted in the wrong & very different sense of a dead letter or rule more often broken than kept. [Fowler]

Idioms and Phrases with honor

honor

In addition to the idiom beginning with
honor
also see: