French word

déshonneur

Pronunciation

IPA/dezonœʁ/

Meaning

  • masculine noundishonor

Example

Il craint le déshonneur.

He fears dishonor.

Illustration for déshonneur (dishonor)

More examples

Cet échec est un déshonneur pour toute la famille.

This failure is a disgrace to the whole family.

Core concept

A public stain spreading over a person's or group's name and standing.

Common phrases

  • être un déshonneur pour

    be a disgrace to ___

  • causer le déshonneur

    cause disgrace

Similar words

honte: A personal feeling of shame about one's actions or circumstances.
humiliation: The experience of being publicly degraded and feeling shame or distress.

Definition in French

Perte publique de réputation ou d'honneur d'une personne ou d'un groupe.

Word origin

Déshonneur combines dé- for removal or loss with honneur, from Latin honor, giving the idea of honor stripped away.

Usage tips

  • Déshonneur is a strong, formal word for public disgrace, whereas honte often names personal shame and perdre la face means losing face.

Opposites

Related words

  • déshonorerdishonorverb
  • déshonorantdishonorableadjective

Word lists with this word