Loss of respect, reputation, or dignity; bringing shame to someone or something.
From Old French 'deshonor,' combining 'des-' (opposite of) and 'honorer' (to honor), from Latin 'honorare.' The prefix 'dis-' is an English adaptation of the French 'des-.' British English preserves the '-ou-' spelling while American English uses 'dishonor' without the 'u.'
The concept of 'dishonour' was so serious in medieval and Victorian cultures that it could ruin entire families—a daughter's loss of virginity was called 'dishonour,' which reveals how tightly honour was tied to controlling women's bodies, a meaning that thankfully shifted dramatically in modern times.
Dishonour in patriarchal systems was asymmetrically applied: women's sexual conduct affected 'family honour' while men's rarely did. This gendered morality framework persists in 'honour killings' and reputation politics.
When discussing honour/shame, explicitly acknowledge the gendered application and that violation of autonomy—not private conduct—is the ethical issue.
["breach of trust","violation of integrity","loss of credibility"]
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.