Honor vs. Merit — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 11, 2024
Honor emphasizes respect and admiration received from others, often for moral integrity, while merit focuses on earned recognition for abilities or achievements.
Difference Between Honor and Merit
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Honor is a concept that involves recognition and esteem, often related to one's character or to the adherence to a code of conduct or ethics. It's about how individuals are viewed by society based on their actions and moral standing. On the other hand, merit is more quantifiable and is typically associated with one's achievements or abilities. It refers to the qualities or actions that make someone deserving of reward or praise.
While honor can be bestowed upon someone by others as a form of respect or recognition for their integrity, merit is usually earned through hard work, talent, or achievements. Merit is often assessed through measurable achievements, such as academic grades, professional accomplishments, or the quality of one's work. In contrast, honor might not be as easily quantifiable, as it encompasses an individual's reputation and moral actions within a community.
Honor often involves external acknowledgment of an individual's adherence to societal or cultural values, making it somewhat dependent on the collective opinion of a community. Merit, whereas, is more focused on individual accomplishment and personal skill, making it less subjective to societal opinions.
Honor is awarded through formal recognitions, such as titles, awards, or public acknowledgments, which symbolize respect for the individual's character or contributions to a community. Whereas merit can lead to tangible rewards like promotions, scholarships, or certificates, which are direct results of one's abilities or performance.
Despite their differences, both honor and merit play crucial roles in motivating individuals and shaping societal values. Honor encourages moral integrity and ethical behavior, while merit promotes hard work, excellence, and achievement. Together, they contribute to a balanced appreciation of both character and competence in society.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Recognition and respect received for moral integrity.
Earned acknowledgment for abilities or achievements.
Basis
Character, ethics, societal values.
Skills, accomplishments, performance.
Measurement
Subjective, based on societal or cultural perception.
Objective, based on quantifiable achievements.
Rewards
Titles, awards, public acknowledgment.
Promotions, scholarships, certificates.
Role in Society
Encourages ethical behavior and adherence to values.
Promotes hard work, excellence, and personal achievement.
Compare with Definitions
Honor
A formal title or recognition.
They addressed him as Your Honor in the courtroom.
Merit
Excellence or high quality.
The merit of her research was widely recognized.
Honor
A privilege or distinction awarded to individuals.
It was an honor to be chosen as the keynote speaker.
Merit
Achievements or good qualities.
His merits as a leader are undeniable.
Honor
A cause of respect; something that brings esteem.
The Nobel Prize is a great honor.
Merit
Worthiness or deservingness of praise or reward.
The scholarship was given based on academic merit.
Honor
Respect and admiration for someone's character.
She received a medal for her honor and bravery in service.
Merit
A feature worthy of praise.
The main merit of the plan is its simplicity.
Honor
Adherence to ethical principles.
He upheld his honor by telling the truth.
Merit
The basis for reward or recognition.
She was promoted on the merit of her work.
Honor
High respect, as that shown for special merit; recognition or esteem
The honor shown to a Nobel laureate.
The place of honor at the table.
Merit
Superior quality or worth; excellence
A proposal of some merit.
An ill-advised plan without merit.
Honor
Great privilege
I have the honor of presenting the governor.
Merit
A quality deserving praise or approval; virtue
A store having the merit of being open late.
Honor
Good name; reputation
I must defend my honor.
Merit
Demonstrated ability or achievement
Promotions based on merit alone.
Honor
A source or cause of credit
Was an honor to the profession.
Merit
Often merits An aspect of character or behavior deserving approval or disapproval
Judging people according to their merits.
Honor
A mark, token, or gesture of respect or distinction, such as a military decoration.
Merit
In various religions, spiritual credit granted for good works.
Honor
Public acts or ceremonies showing respect
Was buried with full honors.
Merit
(Law) The factors to be considered in making a substantive decision in a case, independent of procedural or technical aspects
A trial on the merits.
Honor
Special recognition for unusual academic achievement
Graduated with honors.
Merit
The factual content of a matter, apart from emotional, contextual, or formal considerations.
Honor
A program of advanced study for exceptional students
Planned to take honors in history.
Merit
To earn; deserve.
Honor
Social courtesies offered to guests
Did the honors at tea.
Merit
To be worthy or deserving
Pupils are rewarded or corrected, as they merit.
Honor
High rank
Assumed the honor of kingship.
Merit
(countable) A claim to commendation or a reward.
Honor
Honor Used with His, Her, or Your as a title and form of address for certain officials, such as judges and the mayors of certain cities
Her Honor, Judge Jones.
Merit
(countable) A mark or token of approbation or to recognize excellence.
For her good performance in the examination, her teacher gave her ten merits.
Honor
A sense of principled uprightness of character; personal integrity
Conducted herself with honor.
Saw the challenge as a matter of honor.
Merit
Something deserving or worthy of positive recognition or reward.
His reward for his merit was a check for $50.
Honor
A code of integrity, dignity, and pride, chiefly among men, that was maintained in some societies, as in feudal Europe, by force of arms.
Merit
The sum of all the good deeds that a person does which determines the quality of the person's next state of existence and contributes to the person's growth towards enlightenment.
To acquire or make merit
Honor
A woman's chastity or reputation for chastity.
Merit
Usually in the plural form the merits: the substantive rightness or wrongness of a legal argument, a lawsuit, etc., as opposed to technical matters such as the admissibility of evidence or points of legal procedure; (by extension) the overall good or bad quality, or rightness or wrongness, of some other thing.
Even though the plaintiff was ordered by the judge to pay some costs for not having followed the correct procedure, she won the case on the merits.
Honor
(Sports) The right of being first at the tee in golf.
Merit
The quality or state of deserving retribution, whether reward or punishment.
Honor
Any of the four or five highest cards, especially the ace, king, queen, jack, and ten of the trump suit, in card games such as bridge or whist.
Merit
(transitive) To deserve, to earn.
Her performance merited wild applause.
Honor
Often honors The points allotted to these cards.
Merit
(intransitive) To be deserving or worthy.
They were punished as they merited.
Honor
To hold in respect; esteem
A researcher who is highly honored for her work.
Merit
To reward.
Honor
To show respect for
Honored the volunteers with a party.
Merit
The quality or state of deserving well or ill; desert.
Here may men see how sin hath his merit.
Be it known, that we, the greatest, are misthoughtFor things that others do; and when we fall,We answer other's merits in our name.
Honor
To confer distinction on
He has honored us with his presence.
Merit
The quality or state of deserving well; worth; excellence.
Reputation is . . . oft got without merit, and lost without deserving.
To him the wit of Greece and Rome was known,And every author's merit, but his own.
Honor
To bow to (another dancer) in square dancing
Honor your partner.
Merit
Reward deserved; any mark or token of excellence or approbation; as, his teacher gave him ten merits.
Those laurel groves, the merits of thy youth.
Honor
To accept or pay as valid
Honor a check.
A store that honors all credit cards.
Merit
To earn by service or performance; to have a right to claim as reward; to deserve; sometimes, to deserve in a bad sense; as, to merit punishment.
Honor
(uncountable) recognition of importance or value; respect; veneration of someone, usually for being morally upright or successful
The crowds gave the returning general much honor and praise.
Merit
To reward.
Honor
(uncountable) the state of being morally upright, honest, noble, virtuous, and magnanimous; excellence of character; the perception of such a state; favourable reputation; dignity
He was a most perfect knight, for he had great honor and chivalry.
His honor was unstained.
Merit
To acquire desert; to gain value; to receive benefit; to profit.
Honor
(countable) a token of praise or respect; something that represents praiseworthiness or respect, such as a prize or award given by the state to a citizen
Honors are normally awarded twice a year: on The Queen's Birthday in June and at the New Year.
He wore an honor on his breast.
Military honors; civil honors
Audie Murphy received many honors, such as the Distinguished Service Cross.
Merit
Any admirable quality or attribute;
Work of great merit
Honor
A privilege
I had the honour of dining with the ambassador.
Merit
The quality of being deserving (e.g., deserving assistance);
There were many children whose deservingness he recognized and rewarded
Honor
(in the plural) the privilege of going first
I'll let you have the honours, Bob—go ahead.
Merit
Be worthy or deserving;
You deserve a promotion after all the hard work you have done
Honor
(golf) the right to play one's ball before one's opponent.
Honor
A cause of respect and fame; a glory; an excellency; an ornament.
He is an honour to his nation.
Honor
(feudal law) a seigniory or lordship held of the king, on which other lordships and manors depended
Honor
In bridge, an ace, king, queen, jack, or ten especially of the trump suit. In some other games, an ace, king, queen or jack.
Honor
(in the plural) (courses for) an honours degree: a university qualification of the highest rank
At university I took honours in modern history.
Honor
(transitive) to think of highly, to respect highly; to show respect for; to recognise the importance or spiritual value of
The freedom fighters will be forever remembered and honored by the people.
Honor
(transitive) to conform to, abide by, act in accordance with (an agreement, treaty, promise, request, or the like)
I trusted you, but you have not honored your promise.
Refuse to honor the test ban treaty
Honor
(transitive) to confer (bestow) an honour or privilege upon (someone)
Ten members of the profession were honored at the ceremony.
The prince honored me with an invitation to his birthday banquet.
Honor
(transitive) to make payment in respect of (a cheque, banker's draft, etc.)
I'm sorry Sir, but the bank did not honour your cheque.
Honor
Esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; respect; consideration; reverence; veneration; manifestation of respect or reverence.
A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country.
Honor
That which rightfully attracts esteem, respect, or consideration; self-respect; dignity; courage; fidelity; especially, excellence of character; high moral worth; virtue; nobleness.
Godlike erect, with native honor clad.
Honor
Purity; chastity; - a term applied mostly to women, but becoming uncommon in usage.
If she have forgotHonor and virtue.
Honor
A nice sense of what is right, just, and true, with course of life correspondent thereto; strict conformity to the duty imposed by conscience, position, or privilege; integrity; uprightness; trustworthness.
Say, what is honor? 'T is the finest senseOf justice which the human mind can frame,Intent each lurking frailty to disclaim,And guard the way of life from all offenseSuffered or done.
I could not love thee, dear, so much,Loved I not honor more.
Honor
That to which esteem or consideration is paid; distinguished position; high rank.
I have given thee . . . both riches, and honor.
Thou art clothed with honor and majesty.
Honor
Fame; reputation; credit.
Some in their actions do woo, and affect honor and reputation.
If my honor is meant anything distinct from conscience, 't is no more than a regard to the censure and esteem of the world.
Honor
A token of esteem paid to worth; a mark of respect; a ceremonial sign of consideration; as, he wore an honor on his breast; military honors; civil honors.
Honor
A cause of respect and fame; a glory; an excellency; an ornament; as, he is an honor to his nation.
Honor
A title applied to the holders of certain honorable civil offices, or to persons of rank; as, His Honor the Mayor. See Note under Honorable.
Honor
A seigniory or lordship held of the king, on which other lordships and manors depended.
Honor
Academic or university prizes or distinctions; as, honors in classics.
Honor
The ace, king, queen, and jack of trumps. The ten and nine are sometimes called Dutch honors.
Honor
To regard or treat with honor, esteem, or respect; to revere; to treat with deference and submission; when used of the Supreme Being, to reverence; to adore; to worship.
Honor thy father and thy mother.
That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father.
It is a customMore honor'd in the breach than the observance.
Honor
To dignify; to raise to distinction or notice; to bestow honor upon; to elevate in rank or station; to ennoble; to exalt; to glorify; hence, to do something to honor; to treat in a complimentary manner or with civility.
Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighten to honor.
The name of Cassius honors this corruption.
Honor
To accept and pay when due; as, to honora bill of exchange.
Honor
A tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction;
An award for bravery
Honor
The state of being honored
Honor
The quality of being honorable and having a good name;
A man of honor
Honor
A woman's virtue or chastity
Honor
Bestow honor or rewards upon;
Today we honor our soldiers
The scout was rewarded for courageus action
Honor
Show respect towards;
Honor your parents!
Honor
Accept as pay;
We honor checks and drafts
Common Curiosities
How is honor different from merit?
Honor is related to one's character and moral standing, while merit is based on tangible achievements and abilities.
Do honor and merit lead to the same types of rewards?
Honor often leads to symbolic rewards like titles or public recognition, while merit can lead to tangible rewards like promotions or scholarships.
What does merit mean?
Merit signifies recognition or praise earned through one's abilities, achievements, or quality of work.
Can honor be measured?
Honor is more subjective and is often based on societal or cultural values, making it harder to quantify than merit.
Is merit always earned?
Yes, merit is typically earned through one's actions, achievements, or the quality of their work.
Is merit based on personal or societal values?
Merit is based more on individual accomplishments and can be objectively measured, making it less dependent on societal values.
Can a person be awarded for both honor and merit?
Absolutely, individuals can be recognized for both their character (honor) and their achievements (merit).
What is honor?
Honor refers to the esteem and respect one earns for their moral integrity and ethical behavior.
Can someone have honor without merit?
It's possible, as someone might be respected for their ethical behavior (honor) without having notable achievements (merit).
How does society benefit from honor?
Honor encourages individuals to act ethically and adhere to societal values, promoting a sense of community and trust.
Can the perception of honor change over time?
Yes, what is considered honorable can vary with societal values and cultural shifts.
How are honor and merit recognized in professional settings?
Honor might be acknowledged through awards or public recognition for ethical leadership, while merit could lead to promotions or bonuses for achievements.
Is merit always fair?
While merit is intended to be an objective measure, biases and systemic factors can sometimes influence what is recognized as meritorious.
How does society benefit from merit?
Merit promotes hard work, excellence, and achievement, motivating individuals to develop their skills and contribute to progress.
How do honor and merit influence personal development?
Both concepts encourage individuals to strive for ethical behavior and personal achievement, contributing to their overall growth.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
