Respectability

//ɹɪˌspɛktəˈbɪlɪti// noun

noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The quality of being respectable. uncountable, usually

    "Such a scandal as the prosecution of a brother for forgery—with a verdict of guilty—is a most truly horrible, deplorable, fatal thing. It takes the respectability out of a family perhaps at a critical moment, when the family is just assuming the robes of respectability: […] it is a black spot which all the soaps ever advertised could never wash off."

  2. 2
    honorableness by virtue of being respectable and having a good reputation wordnet
  3. 3
    The class of respectable people. uncountable, usually

Synonyms

All synonyms
characterdecencydecorumdignitydullnessfairness

Example

More examples

"Don't talk to me about respectability. I know every shady thing you've ever done. It would be a shame if the world were to ever find out about them."

Etymology

From respect + -ability.

Related phrases

respectability politics

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.