respectable

[ ri-spek-tuh-buhl ]
See synonyms for respectable on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. worthy of respect or esteem; estimable; worthy: a respectable citizen.

  2. of good social standing, reputation, etc.: a respectable neighborhood.

  1. suitable or good enough to be seen or used: respectable clothes; respectable language.

  2. of moderate excellence; fairly good; fair: a respectable performance.

  3. appreciable in size, number, or amount: a respectable turnout.

Origin of respectable

1
First recorded in 1580–90; respect + -able

Other words for respectable

Other words from respectable

  • 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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use respectable in a sentence

  • It was a street of quite extraordinarily sinister respectableness.

    Sinister Street, vol. 2 | Compton Mackenzie
  • When they came back to the Gilson hedge, he stopped at the gate, with terrific respectableness removed his cap.

    Free Air | Sinclair Lewis
  • It is only the civilisation of a priest-born respectableness.

    The Life of Thomas Wanless, Peasant | Alexander Johnstone Wilson

British Dictionary definitions for respectable

respectable

/ (rɪˈspɛktəbəl) /


adjective
  1. having or deserving the respect of other people; estimable; worthy

  2. having good social standing or reputation

  1. having socially or conventionally acceptable morals, standards, etc: a respectable woman

  2. relatively or fairly good; considerable: a respectable salary

  3. fit to be seen by other people; presentable

Derived forms of respectable

  • respectability or rare respectableness, noun
  • respectably, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012