respectable

[ ri-spek-tuh-buhl ]

adjective

1. worthy of respect or esteem; estimable; worthy:

   a respectable citizen.

   Synonyms: honorable

2. of good social standing, reputation, etc.:

   a respectable neighborhood.

3. suitable or good enough to be seen or used:

   respectable clothes; respectable language.

4. of moderate excellence; fairly good; fair:

   a respectable performance.

   Synonyms: passable, middling

5. appreciable in size, number, or amount:

   a respectable turnout.

respectable

/ rɪˈspɛktəbəl /

adjective

1. having or deserving the respect of other people; estimable; worthy
2. having good social standing or reputation
3. having socially or conventionally acceptable morals, standards, etc

   a respectable woman

4. relatively or fairly good; considerable

   a respectable salary

5. fit to be seen by other people; presentable

Derived Forms

• reˈspectably, adverb
• reˌspectaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• re·specta·ble·ness noun
• re·specta·bly adverb
• nonre·specta·ble adjective
• nonre·specta·ble·ness noun
• nonre·specta·bly adverb
• prere·specta·ble adjective
• quasi-re·specta·ble adjective
• quasi-re·specta·bly adverb
• semi·re·specta·ble adjective
• super·re·specta·ble adjective
• super·re·specta·ble·ness noun
• super·re·specta·bly adverb
• ultra·re·specta·ble adjective
• ultra·re·specta·bly adverb
• ultra·re·specta·ble·ness noun
• unre·specta·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of respectable¹

First recorded in 1580–90; respect + -able

Example Sentences

The powerful desire of most Americans to claim membership in the "respectable" class — and the corresponding desire among the rich Americans to underestimate their wealth and privilege — has meant that the boundaries of middle-class-ness have been stretched ever further in both directions.

From Salon

But the truth is, once someone is elected, your job is to support them, and your job is to do your job as well as you can, to represent your country and keep your country as safe and respectable as you can.

From Los Angeles Times

Vancouver made the final seconds a bit dramatic when Gauld finally found the back of the net in the fifth minute of stoppage time to make the final score more respectable.

From Los Angeles Times

One popular conspiracy theory held that the houses of respectable Protestant families were being raffled off in Catholic churches, to be invaded by unwashed broods of Irish peasants as soon as home rule was established.

From Salon

These are the respectable members of the cult and it explains why we might only be able to count on a small percentage of Republican voters to cross over and vote for Harris.

From Salon

Related Words

• appropriate
• creditable
• decent
• honorable
• mediocre
• modest
• ordinary
• proper
• satisfactory
• tolerable
• upright