What does respect mean?
Respect is the regard, admiration, or consideration that people hold for one another, and it can also mean recognition of their rights, wishes, authority, or achievements. The word is used both as a noun and a verb: we show respect for someone, earn respect, or respect another person's decision. It is strongly associated with courtesy, fairness, dignity, and social equality, although it can also indicate acknowledgment of status or authority. Respect need not mean agreement or warmth; it may simply require taking another person seriously and avoiding unnecessary interference. The related adjective “respectful” describes conduct that acknowledges other people, while “respectable” means worthy of regard or meeting accepted social standards. As a public-vocabulary word, respect therefore links personal esteem with broader ideas of ethical treatment, social conduct, and mutual recognition.
Regard, admiration, or consideration for someone or something, particularly someone's worth, rights, feelings, dignity, or status.
"He spoke with respect but without fear."
The noun is often uncountable, though “a person who commands respect” and similar constructions treat it as countable.
To acknowledge or honor someone's worth, authority, wishes, rights, or feelings.
"I respect her decision even though I would have chosen differently."
The verb can imply strong esteem or, more neutrally, a commitment to refrain from interfering with another person's rights or choices.
The plural is especially common in formal correspondence to convey warm regards or acknowledgement, as in “send one's respects.”
"She sent her respects to the award-winning team."
Respect began as the idea of looking back attentively: its Latin ancestor meant “a looking back” and “consideration,” long before it became a moral ideal.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does respect come from?
The English noun and verb come through French from Latin respectus and respectare, forms used in the 16th century. Latin respectus was derived from respicere, meaning “to look back at” or “to consider,” and the sense developed from attentive consideration toward esteem and acknowledgment. The related English words inspect, prospect, spectator, and circumspect ultimately share the Latin root specere, “to look at.”
Related word forms
How respect is actually used
As a noun, respect is commonly uncountable when it means admiration or consideration, as in “show respect,” but it can be countable in expressions such as “a person who commands respect.” The plural “respects” usually conveys warm regards in formal correspondence. As a verb, respect can mean genuine esteem, but it can also mean simply allowing someone to make a choice or carry out an action without interference.
Easily confused with respect
Respect is the regard or admiration felt for someone or something, whereas respectable describes someone or something regarded as worthy of respect or socially acceptable.
Respect means regard or esteem and is pronounced with stress on the second syllable, while respite means a temporary break or delay and is pronounced with stress on the first syllable.