A reputable person, company, or source is one that has a good reputation, is considered honest, and can be trusted by most people.

What does “reputable” mean?

You can think of “reputable” as:

  • Having a good reputation – people generally speak well of them and have had positive experiences.
  • Trusted and honest – others believe they will act fairly and tell the truth.
  • Reliable and respectable – they usually do good-quality work and behave in a way society approves of.

In older usage, it also meant “held in esteem; in good repute,” slightly weaker than “honorable” but still clearly positive.

Simple examples

  • A reputable company : Known for treating customers fairly, delivering what it promises, and handling problems honestly.
  • A reputable source : A news outlet, researcher, or website that is known for checking facts and avoiding misleading information.
  • A reputable dealer : Someone you’d feel safe buying a car or expensive item from because others have had good experiences.

Opposite words include “disreputable” , meaning having a bad reputation or not being trusted.

How people use it today

You’ll often see “reputable” used in advice like:

  • “Buy from a reputable seller.”
  • “Check that your information comes from reputable sources.”

In our current online world, where misinformation and shady businesses are common, calling something reputable is a shorthand way of saying: “This has earned trust over time; it’s safer to rely on.”

TL;DR: “Reputable” means widely respected, trusted, and thought of as honest and reliable by most people.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.