Honor vs. Honour — What's the Difference?

The quality of knowing and doing what is morally right.

High respect; esteem.

High respect, as that shown for special merit; recognition or esteem

Adherence to what is right or to a conventional standard of conduct.

Great privilege

A thing conferred as a distinction.

Good name; reputation

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.

A source or cause of credit

High respect; great esteem

A mark, token, or gesture of respect or distinction, such as a military decoration.

The quality of knowing and doing what is morally right

Public acts or ceremonies showing respect

Something regarded as a rare opportunity and bringing pride and pleasure; a privilege

Special recognition for unusual academic achievement

An ace, king, queen, jack, or ten.

A program of advanced study for exceptional students

Regard with great respect

Social courtesies offered to guests

Fulfil (an obligation) or keep (an agreement)

High rank

Variant of 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

(uncountable) recognition of importance or value; respect; veneration of someone, usually for being morally upright or successful.

A sense of principled uprightness of character; personal integrity

(uncountable) The state of being morally upright, honest, noble, virtuous, and magnanimous; excellence of character; the perception of such a state; favourable reputation; dignity.

A code of integrity, dignity, and pride, chiefly among men, that was maintained in some societies, as in feudal Europe, by force of arms.

(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.

A woman's chastity or reputation for chastity.

A privilege.

(Sports) The right of being first at the tee in golf.

(in the plural) The privilege of going first.

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.

(golf) The right to play one's ball before one's opponent.

Often honors The points allotted to these cards.

A cause of respect and fame; a glory; an excellency; an ornament.

To hold in respect; esteem

(feudal law) A seigniory or lordship held of the king, on which other lordships and manors depended.

To show respect for

In bridge, an ace, king, queen, jack, or ten especially of the trump suit. In some other games, an ace, king, queen or jack.

To confer distinction on

(in the plural) (Courses for) an honours degree: a university qualification of the highest rank.

To bow to (another dancer) in square dancing

Standard spelling of honor

To accept or pay as valid

Same as honor; - chiefly British usage.

(uncountable) recognition of importance or value; respect; veneration of someone, usually for being morally upright or successful

The state of being honored

(uncountable) the state of being morally upright, honest, noble, virtuous, and magnanimous; excellence of character; the perception of such a state; favourable reputation; dignity

A tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction;

(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

The quality of being honorable and having a good name;

A privilege

A woman's virtue or chastity

(in the plural) the privilege of going first

Bestow honor or rewards upon;

(golf) the right to play one's ball before one's opponent.

Show respect towards;

A cause of respect and fame; a glory; an excellency; an ornament.

Accept as pay;

(feudal law) a seigniory or lordship held of the king, on which other lordships and manors depended

The quality of knowing and doing what is morally right.

In bridge, an ace, king, queen, jack, or ten especially of the trump suit. In some other games, an ace, king, queen or jack.

(in the plural) (courses for) an honours degree: a university qualification of the highest rank

(transitive) to think of highly, to respect highly; to show respect for; to recognise the importance or spiritual value of

(transitive) to conform to, abide by, act in accordance with (an agreement, treaty, promise, request, or the like)

(transitive) to confer (bestow) an honour or privilege upon (someone)

(transitive) to make payment in respect of (a cheque, banker's draft, etc.)

Esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; respect; consideration; reverence; veneration; manifestation of respect or reverence.

That which rightfully attracts esteem, respect, or consideration; self-respect; dignity; courage; fidelity; especially, excellence of character; high moral worth; virtue; nobleness.

Purity; chastity; - a term applied mostly to women, but becoming uncommon in usage.

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.

That to which esteem or consideration is paid; distinguished position; high rank.

Fame; reputation; credit.

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.

A cause of respect and fame; a glory; an excellency; an ornament; as, he is an honor to his nation.

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.

A seigniory or lordship held of the king, on which other lordships and manors depended.

Academic or university prizes or distinctions; as, honors in classics.

The ace, king, queen, and jack of trumps. The ten and nine are sometimes called Dutch honors.

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.

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.

To accept and pay when due; as, to honora bill of exchange.

A tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction;

The state of being honored

The quality of being honorable and having a good name;

A woman's virtue or chastity

Bestow honor or rewards upon;

Show respect towards;

Accept as pay;

High respect; esteem.

Adherence to what is right or to a conventional standard of conduct.

A privilege.

A thing conferred as a distinction.

While they can be understood interchangeably, the usage depends on the form of English being used.

Yes, they are the same concept spelled differently in American and British English.

It's not incorrect but "Honour" is the preferred spelling in the UK.

"Honor" can be both a noun and a verb in American English.

The concept is the same, but the spelling differs according to American and British legal documents.

Canadians typically spell it "Honour."

Yes, phrases like "on my honor" use the American spelling.

It's "honorable" in American English.

Yes, "Your Honour" is a common British phrase used in court.

"Honour" can be both a noun and a verb in British English.

Yes, both words are pronounced the same way.

It's spelled "honourable" in British English.

"Honor roll" is American English.

It's "honourable" in British English.

No, the meaning remains the same regardless of spelling.