Honour vs. Commemorate — What's the Difference?

Respect or esteem shown to someone.

Mark or celebrate an event or person by doing or building something.

A privilege or recognition of merit.

Celebrate an event, a person, or a situation by doing or building something.

A cause or source of credit.

Recall and show respect for (someone or something) in a ceremony.

Moral integrity or adherence to ethical conduct.

Serve as a memorial to someone or something.

High respect; great esteem.

Honour the memory of.

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.

Recall and show respect for (someone or something)

High respect; great esteem

To honor the memory of (a person or event, for example), especially with a ceremony.

The quality of knowing and doing what is morally right

To serve as a memorial to

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

(transitive) To honour the memory of someone or something with a ceremony or object.

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

(transitive) To serve as a memorial to someone or something.

Regard with great respect

To call to remembrance by a special act or observance; to celebrate with honor and solemnity; to honor, as a person or event, by some act of respect or affection, intended to preserve the remembrance of the person or event; as, to commemorate the sufferings and dying love of our Savior by the sacrament of the Lord's Supper; to commemorate the Declaration of Independence by the observance of the Fourth of July.

Fulfil (an obligation) or keep (an agreement)

Mark by some ceremony or observation;

Variant of honor.

Call to remembrance; keep alive the memory of someone or something, as in a ceremony;

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

Be or provide a memorial to a person or an event;

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

(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 privilege.

(in the plural) The privilege of going first.

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

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

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

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.

Standard spelling of honor

Same as honor; - chiefly British usage.

The state of being honored

A tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction;

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;

Through awards, public acknowledgements, or personal gestures of respect.

Yes, buildings or institutions can be named in someone's honour.

To remember, teach, and maintain continuity with their past.

Societies often choose based on historical impact and the values they wish to uphold.

Yes, honour often involves moral integrity and ethical behavior.

It serves to honor those who served or died and reminds society of the costs of conflict.

Honour is about respect and recognition, often current, while commemorate focuses on remembering past events or people.

Yes, individuals can be honoured in their lifetime and commemorated after their death.

Memorials, commemorative ceremonies, and dedicated monuments.

It can foster values such as bravery, integrity, and excellence within the community.