Privilege vs. Honor — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 8, 2024
Privilege is an advantage or entitlement available to a particular person or group, while honor refers to respect or esteem earned through achievements or moral integrity.
Difference Between Privilege and Honor
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Privilege is a special right or advantage granted to individuals or groups based on certain criteria, such as socio-economic status, while honor is an acknowledgment or respect given to someone because of their achievements or qualities. Privileges are often seen as unearned benefits, whereas honor must be earned through one's actions or character.
While privileges can be systemic and unearned, such as those based on race or class, honors are typically conferred as recognition for individual merit or accomplishments. This distinction highlights the societal versus personal aspects of each term.
Privileges may confer certain benefits or exemptions from usual requirements, making life easier for those who have them. In contrast, honor brings a sense of pride and fulfillment, often accompanied by responsibilities or higher expectations.
Privileges are sometimes criticized for perpetuating inequalities and can be subject to societal scrutiny and debate. Honor, however, is universally seen as positive, reflecting a person's adherence to ethical standards and contributions to society.
Comparison Chart
Nature
Entitlement or advantage given to certain groups.
Respect or esteem earned through actions or integrity.
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Basis
Often unearned, based on factors like race, gender, wealth.
Earned through achievements, character, or moral behavior.
Societal Impact
Can perpetuate inequalities.
Promotes moral and ethical values.
Personal Impact
May not require personal effort to obtain.
Requires effort, achievements, or ethical behavior.
Perception
Can be seen as controversial or unfair.
Universally respected and admired.
Compare with Definitions
Privilege
An opportunity that is not available to everyone.
Traveling the world is a privilege that not everyone can afford.
Honor
Respect or esteem shown to someone because of their achievements or qualities.
The soldier was given the highest honor for his bravery.
Privilege
An advantage that a certain group of people has by virtue of their status or position.
The privilege of elite education is often criticized for widening societal gaps.
Honor
The quality of knowing and doing what is morally right.
She lived her life with honor, always truthful and fair.
Privilege
A benefit enjoyed by a particular person or group beyond what is available to others.
Access to advanced healthcare is a privilege in many societies.
Honor
A title or award given as a mark of respect.
The title of Sir is an honor bestowed by the queen.
Privilege
A condition of being favored or entitled to special treatment.
Corporate leaders often enjoy the privilege of accessing exclusive networks.
Honor
A moral standard or principle that one does not breach.
He defended his honor by standing up for what was right.
Privilege
A special right or immunity granted to a particular person or group.
Diplomatic privilege allows diplomats certain legal immunities.
Honor
A distinction conferred by a university, college, or other institution as a mark of high achievement.
She graduated with honors in her field.
Privilege
A special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group
Education is a right, not a privilege
He has been accustomed all his life to wealth and privilege
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.
Privilege
Grant a privilege or privileges to
English inheritance law privileged the eldest son
Honor
Great privilege
I have the honor of presenting the governor.
Privilege
A special advantage, immunity, permission, right, or benefit granted to or enjoyed by an individual, class, or caste.
Honor
Good name; reputation
I must defend my honor.
Privilege
Such an advantage, immunity, or right held as a prerogative of status or rank, and exercised to the exclusion or detriment of others.
Honor
A source or cause of credit
Was an honor to the profession.
Privilege
The principle of granting and maintaining a special right or immunity
A society based on privilege.
Honor
A mark, token, or gesture of respect or distinction, such as a military decoration.
Privilege
Protection from being forced to disclose confidential communications in certain relationships, as between attorney and client, physician and patient, or priest and confessor.
Honor
Public acts or ceremonies showing respect
Was buried with full honors.
Privilege
Protection from being sued for libel or slander for making otherwise actionable statements in a context or forum where open and candid expression is deemed desirable for reasons of public policy.
Honor
Special recognition for unusual academic achievement
Graduated with honors.
Privilege
An option to buy or sell a stock, including put, call, spread, and straddle.
Honor
A program of advanced study for exceptional students
Planned to take honors in history.
Privilege
To grant a privilege to.
Honor
Social courtesies offered to guests
Did the honors at tea.
Privilege
To free or exempt.
Honor
High rank
Assumed the honor of kingship.
Privilege
To assign greater importance or priority to
“A Harvard Law grad who taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago, he is steeped in a tradition that privileges the Bill of Rights over the crude or arbitrary exercise of power” (Evan Thomas).
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.
Privilege
An exemption from certain laws granted by the Pope.
Honor
A sense of principled uprightness of character; personal integrity
Conducted herself with honor.
Saw the challenge as a matter of honor.
Privilege
(countable) A particular benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or immunity enjoyed by some but not others; a prerogative, preferential treatment.
All first-year professors here must teach four courses a term, yet you're only teaching one! What entitled you to such a privilege?
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.
Privilege
An especially rare or fortunate opportunity; the good fortune (to do something).
Honor
A woman's chastity or reputation for chastity.
Privilege
(uncountable) The fact of being privileged; the status or existence of (now especially social or economic) benefit or advantage within a given society.
Honor
(Sports) The right of being first at the tee in golf.
Privilege
A right or immunity enjoyed by a legislative body or its members.
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.
Privilege
A stock market option.
Honor
Often honors The points allotted to these cards.
Privilege
(legal) A common law doctrine that protects certain communications from being used as evidence in court.
Your honor, my client is not required to answer that; her response is protected by attorney-client privilege.
Honor
To hold in respect; esteem
A researcher who is highly honored for her work.
Privilege
(computing) An ability to perform an action on the system that can be selectively granted or denied to users.
Honor
To show respect for
Honored the volunteers with a party.
Privilege
(archaic) To grant some particular right or exemption to; to invest with a peculiar right or immunity; to authorize
To privilege representatives from arrest
Honor
To confer distinction on
He has honored us with his presence.
Privilege
(archaic) To bring or put into a condition of privilege or exemption from evil or danger; to exempt; to deliver.
Honor
To bow to (another dancer) in square dancing
Honor your partner.
Privilege
A peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or immunity not enjoyed by others or by all; special enjoyment of a good, or exemption from an evil or burden; a prerogative; advantage; franchise.
He pleads the legal privilege of a Roman.
The privilege birthright was a double portion.
A people inheriting privileges, franchises, and liberties.
Honor
To accept or pay as valid
Honor a check.
A store that honors all credit cards.
Privilege
See Call, Put, Spread, etc.
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.
Privilege
To grant some particular right or exemption to; to invest with a peculiar right or immunity; to authorize; as, to privilege representatives from arrest.
To privilege dishonor in thy name.
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.
Privilege
To bring or put into a condition of privilege or exemption from evil or danger; to exempt; to deliver.
He took this place for sanctuary, And it shall privilege him from your hands.
Honor
A privilege
I had the honour of dining with the ambassador.
Privilege
A special advantage or immunity or benefit not enjoyed by all
Honor
(in the plural) the privilege of going first
I'll let you have the honours, Bob—go ahead.
Privilege
(law) the right to refuse to divulge information obtained in a confidential relationship
Honor
(golf) the right to play one's ball before one's opponent.
Privilege
Bestow a privilege upon
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 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
Common Curiosities
What does honor mean?
Honor refers to respect or esteem that one earns through their achievements or by upholding moral integrity.
Is privilege always negative?
While privilege can perpetuate inequalities, it is not inherently negative; the focus is on recognizing and addressing its unearned aspects.
What is privilege?
Privilege is a special right or advantage available only to a particular person or group, often based on societal factors.
How does one demonstrate honor?
Honor is demonstrated through actions that reflect integrity, ethical behavior, and adherence to moral principles.
How can someone gain honor?
Honor is gained through achievements, ethical behavior, and by living up to one's moral values and principles.
What role does society play in defining honor?
Society plays a significant role in defining what is considered honorable, often based on cultural values and ethical standards.
Can honor be lost?
Yes, honor can be lost if the individual's actions no longer align with the values or achievements that earned them respect.
Do privileges change over time?
Yes, societal changes and shifts in cultural values can affect what is considered a privilege and who it applies to.
How can society address unearned privileges?
Society can address unearned privileges through awareness, education, and policies aimed at reducing inequalities.
Can honor affect one's social status?
Yes, being recognized for honorable actions can positively impact an individual's social status and respect within a community.
Is honor subjective?
While the concept of honor has universal aspects, its interpretation can vary between cultures and individuals.
Can privileges be earned?
Some privileges can be earned through achievements or status, but many are systemic and unearned.
Is it possible to convert privilege into honor?
While they are distinct concepts, using one's privilege responsibly and ethically can contribute to earning respect and honor.
Can an action be both a privilege and an honor?
In some contexts, actions or roles may be seen as both a privilege and an honor, especially if they entail special rights and are earned through meritorious conduct.
Are privileges the same for everyone?
No, privileges vary widely among different individuals and groups, often based on systemic factors like race, gender, or economic status.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
