Honor vs. Honour — What's the Difference?
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Difference Between Honor and Honour
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Definitions
Honor
High respect, as that shown for special merit; recognition or esteem
The honor shown to a Nobel laureate.
The place of honor at the table.
Honour
Honour (British English) or honor (American English; see spelling differences) is the idea of a bond between an individual and a society as a quality of a person that is both of social teaching and of personal ethos, that manifests itself as a code of conduct, and has various elements such as valour, chivalry, honesty, and compassion. It is an abstract concept entailing a perceived quality of worthiness and respectability that affects both the social standing and the self-evaluation of an individual or institution such as a family, school, regiment or nation.
Honor
Great privilege
I have the honor of presenting the governor.
Honour
High respect; great esteem
His portrait hangs in the place of honour
Honor
Good name; reputation
I must defend my honor.
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Honour
The quality of knowing and doing what is morally right
I must as a matter of honour avoid any taint of dishonesty
Honor
A source or cause of credit
Was an honor to the profession.
Honour
Something regarded as a rare opportunity and bringing pride and pleasure; a privilege
Mrs Young had the honour of being received by the Queen
Honor
A mark, token, or gesture of respect or distinction, such as a military decoration.
Honour
An ace, king, queen, jack, or ten.
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Honor
Public acts or ceremonies showing respect
Was buried with full honors.
Honour
Regard with great respect
They honoured their parents in all they did
Honor
Special recognition for unusual academic achievement
Graduated with honors.
Honour
Fulfil (an obligation) or keep (an agreement)
Make sure the franchisees honour the terms of the contract
Honor
A program of advanced study for exceptional students
Planned to take honors in history.
Honour
Variant of honor.
Honor
Social courtesies offered to guests
Did the honors at tea.
Honour
(uncountable) recognition of importance or value; respect; veneration of someone, usually for being morally upright or successful.
The crowds gave the returning general much honour and praise.
Honor
High rank
Assumed the honor of kingship.
Honour
(uncountable) The state of being morally upright, honest, noble, virtuous, and magnanimous; excellence of character; the perception of such a state; favourable reputation; dignity.
He was a most perfect knight, for he had great honour and chivalry.
His honour was unstained.
Honor
Honor Used with His, Her, or Your as a title and form of address for certain officials, such as judges and the mayors of certain cities
Her Honor, Judge Jones.
Honour
(countable) A token of praise or respect; something that represents praiseworthiness or respect, such as a prize or award given by the state to a citizen.
Honours are normally awarded twice a year: on The Queen's Birthday in June and at the New Year.
He wore an honour on his breast.
Military honours; civil honours
Audie Murphy received many honours, such as the Distinguished Service Cross.
Honor
A sense of principled uprightness of character; personal integrity
Conducted herself with honor.
Saw the challenge as a matter of honor.
Honour
A privilege.
I had the honour of dining with the ambassador.
Honor
A code of integrity, dignity, and pride, chiefly among men, that was maintained in some societies, as in feudal Europe, by force of arms.
Honour
(in the plural) The privilege of going first.
I'll let you have the honours, Bob—go ahead.
Honor
A woman's chastity or reputation for chastity.
Honour
(golf) The right to play one's ball before one's opponent.
Honor
(Sports) The right of being first at the tee in golf.
Honour
A cause of respect and fame; a glory; an excellency; an ornament.
He is an honour to his nation.
Honor
Any of the four or five highest cards, especially the ace, king, queen, jack, and ten of the trump suit, in card games such as bridge or whist.
Honour
(feudal law) A seigniory or lordship held of the king, on which other lordships and manors depended.
Honor
Often honors The points allotted to these cards.
Honour
In bridge, an ace, king, queen, jack, or ten especially of the trump suit. In some other games, an ace, king, queen or jack.
Honor
To hold in respect; esteem
A researcher who is highly honored for her work.
Honour
(in the plural) (Courses for) an honours degree: a university qualification of the highest rank.
At university I took honours in modern history.
Honor
To show respect for
Honored the volunteers with a party.
Honour
Standard spelling of honor
Honor
To confer distinction on
He has honored us with his presence.
Honour
Same as honor; - chiefly British usage.
Honor
To bow to (another dancer) in square dancing
Honor your partner.
Honour
The state of being honored
Honor
To accept or pay as valid
Honor a check.
A store that honors all credit cards.
Honour
A tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction;
An award for bravery
Honor
(uncountable) recognition of importance or value; respect; veneration of someone, usually for being morally upright or successful
The crowds gave the returning general much honor and praise.
Honour
The quality of being honorable and having a good name;
A man of honor
Honor
(uncountable) the state of being morally upright, honest, noble, virtuous, and magnanimous; excellence of character; the perception of such a state; favourable reputation; dignity
He was a most perfect knight, for he had great honor and chivalry.
His honor was unstained.
Honour
A woman's virtue or chastity
Honor
(countable) a token of praise or respect; something that represents praiseworthiness or respect, such as a prize or award given by the state to a citizen
Honors are normally awarded twice a year: on The Queen's Birthday in June and at the New Year.
He wore an honor on his breast.
Military honors; civil honors
Audie Murphy received many honors, such as the Distinguished Service Cross.
Honour
Bestow honor or rewards upon;
Today we honor our soldiers
The scout was rewarded for courageus action
Honor
A privilege
I had the honour of dining with the ambassador.
Honour
Show respect towards;
Honor your parents!
Honor
(in the plural) the privilege of going first
I'll let you have the honours, Bob—go ahead.
Honour
Accept as pay;
We honor checks and drafts
Honor
(golf) the right to play one's ball before one's opponent.
Honor
A cause of respect and fame; a glory; an excellency; an ornament.
He is an honour to his nation.
Honor
(feudal law) a seigniory or lordship held of the king, on which other lordships and manors depended
Honor
In bridge, an ace, king, queen, jack, or ten especially of the trump suit. In some other games, an ace, king, queen or jack.
Honor
(in the plural) (courses for) an honours degree: a university qualification of the highest rank
At university I took honours in modern history.
Honor
(transitive) to think of highly, to respect highly; to show respect for; to recognise the importance or spiritual value of
The freedom fighters will be forever remembered and honored by the people.
Honor
(transitive) to conform to, abide by, act in accordance with (an agreement, treaty, promise, request, or the like)
I trusted you, but you have not honored your promise.
Refuse to honor the test ban treaty
Honor
(transitive) to confer (bestow) an honour or privilege upon (someone)
Ten members of the profession were honored at the ceremony.
The prince honored me with an invitation to his birthday banquet.
Honor
(transitive) to make payment in respect of (a cheque, banker's draft, etc.)
I'm sorry Sir, but the bank did not honour your cheque.
Honor
Esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; respect; consideration; reverence; veneration; manifestation of respect or reverence.
A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country.
Honor
That which rightfully attracts esteem, respect, or consideration; self-respect; dignity; courage; fidelity; especially, excellence of character; high moral worth; virtue; nobleness.
Godlike erect, with native honor clad.
Honor
Purity; chastity; - a term applied mostly to women, but becoming uncommon in usage.
If she have forgotHonor and virtue.
Honor
A nice sense of what is right, just, and true, with course of life correspondent thereto; strict conformity to the duty imposed by conscience, position, or privilege; integrity; uprightness; trustworthness.
Say, what is honor? 'T is the finest senseOf justice which the human mind can frame,Intent each lurking frailty to disclaim,And guard the way of life from all offenseSuffered or done.
I could not love thee, dear, so much,Loved I not honor more.
Honor
That to which esteem or consideration is paid; distinguished position; high rank.
I have given thee . . . both riches, and honor.
Thou art clothed with honor and majesty.
Honor
Fame; reputation; credit.
Some in their actions do woo, and affect honor and reputation.
If my honor is meant anything distinct from conscience, 't is no more than a regard to the censure and esteem of the world.
Honor
A token of esteem paid to worth; a mark of respect; a ceremonial sign of consideration; as, he wore an honor on his breast; military honors; civil honors.
Honor
A cause of respect and fame; a glory; an excellency; an ornament; as, he is an honor to his nation.
Honor
A title applied to the holders of certain honorable civil offices, or to persons of rank; as, His Honor the Mayor. See Note under Honorable.
Honor
A seigniory or lordship held of the king, on which other lordships and manors depended.
Honor
Academic or university prizes or distinctions; as, honors in classics.
Honor
The ace, king, queen, and jack of trumps. The ten and nine are sometimes called Dutch honors.
Honor
To regard or treat with honor, esteem, or respect; to revere; to treat with deference and submission; when used of the Supreme Being, to reverence; to adore; to worship.
Honor thy father and thy mother.
That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father.
It is a customMore honor'd in the breach than the observance.
Honor
To dignify; to raise to distinction or notice; to bestow honor upon; to elevate in rank or station; to ennoble; to exalt; to glorify; hence, to do something to honor; to treat in a complimentary manner or with civility.
Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighten to honor.
The name of Cassius honors this corruption.
Honor
To accept and pay when due; as, to honora bill of exchange.
Honor
A tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction;
An award for bravery
Honor
The state of being honored
Honor
The quality of being honorable and having a good name;
A man of honor
Honor
A woman's virtue or chastity
Honor
Bestow honor or rewards upon;
Today we honor our soldiers
The scout was rewarded for courageus action
Honor
Show respect towards;
Honor your parents!
Honor
Accept as pay;
We honor checks and drafts