reputation

noun

rep·​u·​ta·​tion ˌre-pyə-ˈtā-shən 

1

a

: overall quality or character as seen or judged by people in general

b

: recognition by other people of some characteristic or ability

has the reputation of being clever

2

: a place in public esteem or regard : good name

trying to protect his reputation

reputational

ˌre-pyə-ˈtā-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

adjective

Did you know?

An esteemed word in English, reputation rose to fame during the 14th century and ultimately traces back to the Latin verb reputare, meaning "to take into consideration" or "to think over." Reputare is itself a coupling of the well-known "again" prefix re- and the verb putare, "to reckon." Renowned celebrities of the putare family are the verb repute ("to believe or consider"), the identical noun (synonymous with reputation), the adjectives reputable and reputed, and the adverb reputedly. Other putare cousins of notoriety include dispute, disreputable, imputation, and putative, along with their kin.

Synonyms

• character
• fame
• mark
• name
• note
• odor
• rep [slang]
• report
• repute

Examples of reputation in a Sentence

He has earned a reputation as a first-class playwright.

a teacher with a reputation for patience

Poor customer service has ruined the company's reputation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Catullus would be little more than a name and a reputation today had a single manuscript containing his poems not survived the Middle Ages. —Daniel Mendelsohn, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025

Family-friendly Offerings While Bora Bora has a reputation for being a honeymooners' paradise, there are plenty of family-friendly activities here, too. —Jess Feldman, Travel + Leisure, 31 Mar. 2025

Denis has built a reputation as a go-to stylist for stunning, intricate braids, but her creativity doesn’t stop there. —Martine Thompson, Essence, 31 Mar. 2025

He is known as one of the leading white-collar litigators and throughout his career has earned an unmatched reputation for carefully executing strategies in the context of national and precedent setting cases. —William Jones, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English reputacion, from Anglo-French, from Latin reputation-, reputatio consideration, from reputare

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing reputation

• acquire a reputation
• live up to one's reputation

Rhymes for reputation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

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Kids Definition

reputation

noun

rep·​u·​ta·​tion ˌrep-yə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: overall quality or character as seen or judged by people in general

a car with a good reputation

2

: notice by other people of some quality or ability

has the reputation of being a good tennis player

3

: a place in public regard : good name

trying to protect his reputation

Legal Definition

reputation

noun

rep·​u·​ta·​tion

: overall quality or character as seen or judged by people in general within a community see also character evidence at evidence, reputation testimony at testimony