Respect vs. Honour: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Respect is esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, while honour is high respect, especially earned through notable achievements or integrity.
Key Differences
Respect is an attitude of admiration or deference toward someone, often due to their abilities, qualities, or achievements. Honour, however, conveys a deeper sense of esteem, often linked to morality, integrity, or high status.
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Dec 03, 2023
You can respect someone for their skills or knowledge, like respecting a teacher for their expertise. Honour is often associated with ethical qualities and is sometimes a formal recognition, like honouring a soldier for bravery.
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Dec 03, 2023
Respect can be shown in everyday interactions and is essential in healthy relationships. Honour often involves formal recognition and is associated with prestige and dignity.
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Respect is given based on qualities that individuals appreciate in others, which can vary widely. Honour is usually bestowed due to societal or cultural standards of excellence and often carries a sense of duty and responsibility.
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Dec 03, 2023
Both respect and honour are fundamental to social interactions, but respect is more commonly experienced in daily life, while honour often implies a higher level of recognition and moral standing.
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Dec 03, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Basis
Admiration for abilities, qualities
Recognition of integrity, achievements
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Common Usage
Daily interactions, relationships
Formal recognitions, high achievements
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Respect and Honour Definitions
Respect
Admiration for someone's abilities or achievements.
She had great respect for her mentor's expertise.
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Honour
A privilege or distinction.
It was an honour to meet the renowned author.
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Nov 23, 2023
Respect
Consideration for others' feelings or rights.
Their mutual respect made the team successful.
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Nov 23, 2023
Honour
Adherence to principles considered right.
She acted with honour in a difficult situation.
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Respect
A feeling of appreciative, often deferential regard; esteem
I have great respect for your work.
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Oct 19, 2023
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Honour
A source of credit or distinction.
His honesty is an honour to his family.
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Nov 23, 2023
Respect
The state of being regarded with honor or esteem
A leader held in the greatest respect.
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Honour
High respect earned through integrity or achievements.
The war hero was given the highest honour for bravery.
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Respect
Consideration or appreciation
Can't you at least give me some respect?.
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Respect
Due regard for something considered important or authoritative
Respect for the law.
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Respect
A particular aspect, feature, or detail
In many respects this is an important decision.
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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.
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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.
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Respect
To feel or show deferential regard for; esteem or admire
All the other scholars respect her.
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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.
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Respect
To avoid interfering with or intruding upon
Please respect my privacy.
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Honour
(in the plural) The privilege of going first.
I'll let you have the honours, Bob—go ahead.
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Respect
To relate or refer to; concern
As respects the rights of land owners, this law says nothing.
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Respect
(uncountable) an attitude of consideration or high regard
He is an intellectual giant, and I have great respect for him.
We do respect people for their dignity and worth.
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Oct 19, 2023
Honour
A cause of respect and fame; a glory; an excellency; an ornament.
He is an honour to his nation.
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Honour
(feudal law) A seigniory or lordship held of the king, on which other lordships and manors depended.
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Respect
Polite greetings, often offered as condolences after a death.
The mourners paid their last respects to the deceased poet.
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Respect
(countable) a particular aspect, feature or detail of something
This year's model is superior to last year's in several respects.
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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.
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Honour
(in the plural) (Courses for) an honours degree: a university qualification of the highest rank.
At university I took honours in modern history.
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Respect
To have respect for.
She is an intellectual giant, and I respect her greatly.
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Respect
To have regard for something, to observe a custom, practice, rule or right.
I respect your right to hold that belief, although I think it is nonsense.
I respect your right to feel offended, even though most people, myself included, totally disagree and don’t find the comment offensive in the slightest.
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Oct 19, 2023
Respect
To abide by an agreement.
They failed to respect the treaty they had signed, and invaded.
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Respect
To take notice of; to regard as worthy of special consideration; to heed.
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Honour
A tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction;
An award for bravery
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Honour
The quality of being honorable and having a good name;
A man of honor
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Honour
Bestow honor or rewards upon;
Today we honor our soldiers
The scout was rewarded for courageus action
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Respect
To take notice of; to regard with special attention; to regard as worthy of special consideration; hence, to care for; to heed.
Thou respectest not spilling Edward's blood.
In orchards and gardens, we do not so much respect beauty as variety of ground for fruits, trees, and herbs.
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Oct 19, 2023
Respect
To look toward; to front upon or toward.
Palladius adviseth the front of his house should so respect the uth.
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Respect
To regard; to consider; to deem.
To whom my father gave this name of Gaspar,And as his own respected him to death.
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Respect
To have regard to; to have reference to; to relate to; as, the treaty particularly respects our commerce.
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Respect
The act of noticing with attention; the giving particular consideration to; hence, care; caution.
But he it well did ward with wise respect.
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Respect
Esteem; regard; consideration; honor.
Seen without awe, and served without respect.
The same men treat the Lord's Day with as little respect.
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Respect
An expression of respect of deference; regards; as, to send one's respects to another.
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Respect
Particular; point regarded; point of view; as, in this respect; in any respect; in all respects.
Everything which is imperfect, as the world must be acknowledged in many respects.
In one respect I'll be thy assistant.
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Oct 19, 2023
Respect
Relation; reference; regard.
They believed but one Supreme Deity, which, with respect to the various benefits men received from him, had several titles.
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Oct 19, 2023
Respect
Consideration; motive; interest.
To the publik goodPrivate respects must yield.
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Respect
(usually preceded by `in') a detail or point;
It differs in that respect
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Respect
The condition of being honored (esteemed or respected or well regarded);
It is held in esteem
A man who has earned high regard
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Oct 19, 2023
Respect
A courteous expression (by word or deed) of esteem or regard;
His deference to her wishes was very flattering
Be sure to give my respects to the dean
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Respect
Behavior intended to please your parents;
Their children were never very strong on obedience
He went to law school out of respect for his father's wishes
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Respect
A feeling of friendship and esteem;
She mistook his manly regard for love
He inspires respect
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Respect
Courteous regard for people's feelings;
In deference to your wishes
Out of respect for his privacy
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Respect
Regard highly; think much of;
I respect his judgement
We prize his creativity
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Oct 19, 2023
Respect
Polite behavior toward someone.
He showed respect by listening attentively.
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Nov 23, 2023
Respect
An act of giving particular attention to.
Respect the rules to maintain order.
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Respect
A feeling of deep admiration.
His respect for nature led him to conservation efforts.
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Nov 23, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is respect?
Respect is admiration for someone's abilities, qualities, or achievements.
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Dec 03, 2023
What is honour?
Honour is high respect, often for integrity or achievements.
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Dec 03, 2023
How is honour achieved?
Honour is achieved through notable actions, moral integrity, or societal recognition.
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Can respect be earned?
Yes, respect is often earned through one's actions or abilities.
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What role does honour play in society?
Honour plays a key role in upholding moral standards and recognitions in society.
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Is honour always positive?
Generally, yes, but some cultures have concepts of honour that can have negative consequences.
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Dec 03, 2023
Can disrespect affect relationships?
Yes, disrespect can harm relationships, leading to conflict and mistrust.
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Is respect important in the workplace?
Yes, respect is crucial for a healthy and productive workplace environment.
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Can respect change over time?
Yes, respect can fluctuate based on ongoing actions and behaviors.
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Dec 03, 2023
How do you show respect to someone?
Showing respect can be through listening, polite behavior, and valuing their opinions.
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How can honour be lost?
Honour can be lost through actions that contradict societal or moral standards.
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Can one have honour without power?
Yes, honour is more about moral integrity and less about power.
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Dec 03, 2023
Is self-respect important?
Yes, self-respect is crucial for personal dignity and self-esteem.
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Dec 03, 2023
Does respect require agreement?
No, one can respect someone without agreeing with all their views.
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Dec 03, 2023
How is honour celebrated?
Honour is often celebrated through ceremonies, awards, or public acknowledgment.
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What is a code of honour?
A code of honour is a set of principles guiding moral and ethical behavior.
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Dec 03, 2023
Is respect a mutual feeling?
Ideally, respect should be mutual for healthy interpersonal dynamics.
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Dec 03, 2023
What is the difference between respect and fear?
Respect is based on admiration, while fear is a response to perceived danger or threat.
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Dec 03, 2023
Can honour be restored once lost?
Depending on the context, honour can sometimes be restored through redeeming actions.
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Dec 03, 2023
Is honour the same across cultures?
Honour's interpretation can vary significantly across different cultures.
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Dec 03, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.