dignity Hear it!

dignity Definition

dig·nity (dignə tē)

noun pl. -·ties

  1. the quality of being worthy of esteem or honor; worthiness
  2. high repute; honor
  3. the degree of worth, repute, or honor
  4. a high position, rank, or title
  5. loftiness of appearance or manner; stateliness
  6. proper pride and self-respect
  7. Archaic a dignitary

Etymology: ME & OFr dignite < L dignitas, worth, merit < dignus, worthy < IE base *dek-, to receive, be fitting > décor, docile

dignity Synonyms

dignity

n.

  1. A presence that commands respect

    stateliness, nobility, self-respect, pride, hauteur, nobility of manner, lofty bearing, elevated deportment, sublimity, dignified behavior, decorum, propriety, decency, grand air, loftiness, formality, gravity, solemnity, ceremoniousness, distinction, elevation, reserve, presence, gravitas, worthiness, worth, regard, character, importance, renown, splendor, majesty, consequence, that mysterious something*, stuff*, class*, tone*; see also honor 1, pride 3.

    Antonyms lowliness, unseemliness, meekness.

  2. A station that commands respect

    rank, honor, significance; see fame 1, importance 1, rank 3. See syn. study at decorum.

dignity Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • uphold: Principle: Members of the museum profession should observe accepted standards and laws and uphold the dignity and honor of their profession.
  • violate: It covers any unwanted conduct which violates a person's dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.
  • affirm: We welcome everyone and affirm the dignity of each person.
  • restore: The right to communicate is, thus, a moral claim because it affirms and restores human dignity.
  • confer: Does distortion that implies age confer dignity on a recording whilst distortion that suggests sophisticated processing trivializes it?
  • lend: These practices also serve to empower and lend dignity to the poorest, while at the same time contributing to a sense of community.

Preposition: as

being: One compels respect from others when one knows how to defend one's dignity as a human being.

Adjective modifier

  • innate: Hilaire too was deeply touching as des Grieux; his good looks and innate dignity are perfect for the role.
  • inherent: Let us continue to strive to act in ways that reaffirm the inherent dignity of every person regardless of faith.
  • human: Human dignity means that every man is an end in himself.
  • god-given: We affirm the God-given dignity of every person, so we are moved to action by poverty and oppression and famine and disease.
  • elemental: Each direction has an elemental attribution which can be used as the basis for elemental dignities.
  • kingly: The coronation ring ( representing kingly dignity, and dating from 1831 ) and the scepters are then presented.

Noun used with modifier

pensioner: Do the reforms deliver pensioner dignity, rolling back means-testing?

Preposition: in

retirement: A fair deal for the elderly Labor is securing dignity in retirement for the elderly.

Preposition: of

  • being: Dignity of human beings is not a notion decreed by human rulers.
  • person: He has spoken about the truth, of the dignity of the human person, which should never be violated.
  • independence: Mary has a full claim to the dignity of independence which is her human entitlement.
  • marriage: Taking Leo XIII's encyclical as his starting point, he too emphasized the dignity of marriage as a perpetual sacrament.
  • woman: It is quite beneath the dignity of a woman to do such a thing.

Browse dictionary entries near dignity

  1. dignitary
  2. dignify
  3. dignified
  4. diglot
  5. digitoxin
  6. digitize
  7. digitigrade
  8. digitiform
  9. digiti-
  10. digiterati
  1. digoxin
  2. digraph
  3. digress
  4. digression
  5. digressive
  6. digroup
  7. dihedral
  8. dihybrid
  9. Dijon
  10. Dijon mustard