dignified
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- dignifiedly adverb
- dignifiedness noun
- quasi-dignified adjective
- undignified adjective
- undignifiedly adverb
Etymology
Origin of dignified
Explanation
Dignified means self-respecting and worthy. If you want to have a dignified memorial service, skip the karaoke machine and instead softly play the favorite music of the person you're remembering. Something that has dignity is honorable and worthy, so something that is dignified acts in an honorable, worthy way, showing great self-respect and respect for others. If someone handles a terrible public embarrassment gracefully and without breaking down, we might compliment her dignified manner. You might be too dignified to engage in screaming at the wrestling match, or too dignified to beg for a job even in hard times.
Vocabulary lists containing dignified
An "August" Assortment: Words Worthy of Honor
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Great Gatsby," Chapter 1 Vocabulary
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Diary of Anne Frank," Vocabulary from the drama
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Voices from across the military tout humble, dignified professionalism as essential to morale and project confidence from leadership down through the ranks.
From Slate • Apr. 13, 2026
Wet ground conditions across the crematorium mean ashes could not be scattered, because they "may not settle naturally or in a dignified way".
From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026
There’s the lab-coated museum curator who treats statues in underground storage as dignified friends worth revisiting.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026
The latest example came Saturday at one of the most solemn moments a commander-in-chief can face: a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base.
From Salon • Mar. 9, 2026
For a decade now, Devaney had sponsored this conference—called ASF, or the American Securitization Forum, in part because it sounded more dignified than the Association for Subprime Lending.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
