noun
- lack or loss of honor; disgraceful or dishonest character or conduct.
- disgrace; ignominy; shame: His arrest brought dishonor to his family.
- an indignity; insult: to do someone a dishonor.
- a cause of shame or disgrace: He is a dishonor to his family.
- Commerce. failure or refusal of the drawee or intended acceptor of a bill of exchange or note to accept it or, if it is accepted, to pay and retire it.
verb (used with object)
- to deprive of honor; disgrace; bring reproach or shame on.
- Commerce. to fail or refuse to honor or pay (a draft, check, etc.).
- to rape or seduce.
mid-13c., from Old French deshonorer (12c.), from Late Latin dishonorare (reformed from classical Latin dehonestare), from dis- “opposite of” (see dis-) + honorare (see honor). Related: Dishonored; dishonoring.
c.1300, from Old French deshonor (12c.); see dishonor (v.).