dishonor

[ dis-on-er ]

noun

1. lack or loss of honor; disgraceful or dishonest character or conduct.
2. disgrace; ignominy; shame:

   His arrest brought dishonor to his family.

3. an indignity; insult:

   to do someone a dishonor.

4. a cause of shame or disgrace:

   He is a dishonor to his family.

5. Commerce. failure or refusal of the drawee or intended acceptor of a bill of exchange or note to accept it or, if it is accepted, to pay and retire it.

verb (used with object)

1. to deprive of honor; disgrace; bring reproach or shame on.
2. Commerce. to fail or refuse to honor or pay (a draft, check, etc.).
3. to rape or seduce.

Other Words From

• dis·honor·er noun
• undis·honored adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dishonor¹

1250–1300; Middle English dishonour (noun), dishonouren (v.) < Anglo-French, Old French; dis- ¹, honor

Synonym Study

See disgrace.

Example Sentences

Because when we anchor our politics on identity, any compromise seems like dishonor.

From Washington Blade

After the liberal victory in 1936, an army officer named Francisco Franco declared himself to be the only person who could save the country from dishonor and ruin.

From Time

The stigma of sexual assault runs deep in Syrian culture as it does across the Middle East; rape is shaming and casts dishonor.

From The Daily Beast

THE DISHONOR OF HONOR KILLINGS Imagine a young woman killed by her own relatives for failing to obey.

From The Daily Beast

The fiery trial through which we pass, will light us down, in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation.

From The Daily Beast

We witnessed rape, dishonor and the destruction of families.

From The Daily Beast

I felt my death would spare my wife, daughter and myself the dishonor the rape brought upon us.

From The Daily Beast

Better her death, better mine, better the destruction of us all, than such dishonor to the purest thing heaven ever made.

From Project Gutenberg

Nor have you denied this; you have confessed you desired his hurt, you have boasted you desired his death and dishonor.

From Project Gutenberg

She did not relish the idea that he had been defeated in the primaries; in her mind defeat was inseparable from dishonor.

From Project Gutenberg

He even took advantage of Qocaib's absence to dishonor his wife, who bore him a son.

From Project Gutenberg

A being so gentle and so virtuous, slander might wound but could not dishonor.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• debase
• defile
• discredit
• disgrace
• sully