Honors vs. Honor: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 5, 2023
"Honors" often refers to a higher level of academic or recognition achievements, while "honor" is a noun or verb denoting respect or integrity.
Key Differences
Honors and honor are both terms associated with respect, recognition, and high regard, but they have distinct usages. "Honors" typically refers to distinctions or awards given due to excellence in various fields. For instance, students who excel academically might graduate with honors. In contrast, "honor" can be a noun signifying esteem or a verb indicating the act of showing respect.
In academic contexts, honors often denotes advanced or specialized courses that are more challenging. Students who undertake these courses are usually termed as being in the "honors program". On the other hand, honor in an academic setting might refer to the moral code or integrity students are expected to uphold, as in an "honor code".
In ceremonies or formal events, individuals may receive honors for their achievements or contributions. This implies they are being awarded or recognized for their excellence. On the contrary, to honor someone means to celebrate, recognize, or show respect to that person. It's an act of bestowing regard.
In everyday language, people might say they do something "on their honor", implying they do it with sincerity and integrity. Honors, meanwhile, might b
Comparison Chart
Grammatical Number
Plural form.
Singular form.
ADVERTISEMENT
Common Usage
Distinctions due to excellence.
Esteem or the act of showing respect.
Academic Reference
Advanced or specialized courses.
Moral code or integrity.
Context in Awards
Multiple awards or recognitions.
The act of showing respect or recognition.
Verb or Noun
Usually a noun (e.g., accolades).
Both a noun (esteem) and verb (to respect).
Honors and Honor Definitions
Honors
A higher level of academic courses.
He's taking honors math this year.
ADVERTISEMENT
Honor
Moral integrity or code.
He acted on his honor and told the truth.
Honors
Recognitions or awards.
The soldier received several honors for his service.
Honor
A title of respect.
Your Honor, I present my case.
Honors
A ceremonial title or distinction.
He was given the honors of the chief guest at the event.
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.
Honors
Distinctions given for excellence.
She graduated with highest honors.
Honor
Great privilege
I have the honor of presenting the governor.
Honors
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.
Honor
Good name; reputation
I must defend my honor.
Honors
Great privilege
I have the honor of presenting the governor.
Honor
A source or cause of credit
Was an honor to the profession.
Honors
Good name; reputation
I must defend my honor.
Honor
A mark, token, or gesture of respect or distinction, such as a military decoration.
Honors
A source or cause of credit
Was an honor to the profession.
Honor
Public acts or ceremonies showing respect
Was buried with full honors.
Honors
A mark, token, or gesture of respect or distinction, such as a military decoration.
Honor
Special recognition for unusual academic achievement
Graduated with honors.
Honors
Public acts or ceremonies showing respect
Was buried with full honors.
Honor
A program of advanced study for exceptional students
Planned to take honors in history.
Honors
Special recognition for unusual academic achievement
Graduated with honors.
Honor
Social courtesies offered to guests
Did the honors at tea.
Honors
A program of advanced study for exceptional students
Planned to take honors in history.
Honor
High rank
Assumed the honor of kingship.
Honors
Social courtesies offered to guests
Did the honors at tea.
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.
Honors
High rank
Assumed the honor of kingship.
Honor
A sense of principled uprightness of character; personal integrity
Conducted herself with honor.
Saw the challenge as a matter of honor.
Honors
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.
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.
Honors
A sense of principled uprightness of character; personal integrity
Conducted herself with honor.
Saw the challenge as a matter of honor.
Honor
A woman's chastity or reputation for chastity.
Honors
A code of integrity, dignity, and pride, chiefly among men, that was maintained in some societies, as in feudal Europe, by force of arms.
Honor
(Sports) The right of being first at the tee in golf.
Honors
A woman's chastity or reputation for chastity.
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.
Honors
(Sports) The right of being first at the tee in golf.
Honor
Often honors The points allotted to these cards.
Honors
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.
Honor
To hold in respect; esteem
A researcher who is highly honored for her work.
Honors
Often honors The points allotted to these cards.
Honor
To show respect for
Honored the volunteers with a party.
Honors
To hold in respect; esteem
A researcher who is highly honored for her work.
Honor
To confer distinction on
He has honored us with his presence.
Honors
To show respect for
Honored the volunteers with a party.
Honor
To bow to (another dancer) in square dancing
Honor your partner.
Honors
To confer distinction on
He has honored us with his presence.
Honor
To accept or pay as valid
Honor a check.
A store that honors all credit cards.
Honors
To bow to (another dancer) in square dancing
Honor your partner.
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.
Honors
To accept or pay as valid
Honor a check.
A store that honors all credit cards.
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.
Honors
Plural of honor
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.
Honors
At an excelling level in academics.
I'm taking honors math this year.
Your kid may be an honors student, but you're still an idiot.
Honor
A privilege
I had the honour of dining with the ambassador.
Honors
Marks of respect or celebration.
The event was one of the greatest honors of his life.
Honor
(in the plural) the privilege of going first
I'll let you have the honours, Bob—go ahead.
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
Honor
Respect or esteem.
His honor was unquestioned among his peers.
Honor
A privilege or distinction.
It is an honor to meet you.
Honor
To show respect or regard.
We honor our veterans for their service.
FAQs
Are "honors courses" more challenging?
Typically, yes. Honors courses are often advanced or specialized academic courses.
What does "graduate with honors" mean?
It means to graduate with a distinction due to high academic achievement.
Is "honor code" related to the word "honors"?
Not directly. An "honor code" relates to moral integrity, while "honors" often relates to distinctions or awards.
Is "honors" always used in plural?
While "honors" is plural in form, its usage often pertains to recognition, whether single or multiple.
Can someone be stripped of their honors?
Yes, if they're found to have violated certain rules or standards, their honors can be revoked.
Can "honor" be used as a verb?
Yes, "honor" can mean to show respect or recognition.
What does "on my honor" signify?
It signifies a commitment made with sincerity and integrity.
Is "Your Honor" a form of address?
Yes, it's a formal address for judges in court.
Is "honors" only related to academic achievements?
No, "honors" can relate to distinctions in various fields, not just academics.
What are academic honors?
Academic honors refer to distinctions awarded for academic excellence, such as graduating with honors.
Can "honor" relate to moral values?
Yes, "honor" can signify moral integrity or a code of conduct.
Can "honor" be synonymous with "privilege"?
In some contexts, yes. Saying "it's an honor" can mean "it's a privilege".
How can "honor" relate to ceremonies?
In ceremonies, to "honor" someone means to formally recognize or show respect to them.
Can an event have "opening honors"?
Yes, it refers to the ceremonial duties or distinctions at the beginning of an event.
Can a person have multiple honors?
Yes, a person can receive several recognitions or awards, termed as multiple "honors".
Is "honor" a universal value?
While the concept of respect and integrity is universal, the cultural interpretations of "honor" can vary.
Can one "honor" a promise?
Yes, to "honor" a promise means to keep or fulfill it.
How is "highest honors" different from "honors"?
"Highest honors" denotes an even greater level of distinction or achievement than just "honors".
Does "with honors" only refer to graduation?
While commonly used for graduation, "with honors" can refer to other forms of recognition as well.
Is "in honor of" a common phrase?
Yes, "in honor of" is a phrase used to indicate respect, recognition, or celebration of someone or something.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
