Skip to learning

YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

ignoble

Adjective

IPA /ɪɡˈnəʊbl/

Understand it. Say it. Use it.

UNDERSTAND THE WORD

Meaning in plain English

Dishonourable or morally shameful.

SAY IT ALOUD

Pronunciation

ignoble/ɪɡˈnəʊbl/

PICTURE THE IDEA

See the meaning

Follow the idea
  1. Someone could act generously

  2. They choose personal gain at others' expense

  3. The motive is dishonourable

An ignoble motive is morally unworthy or shameful.

SEE IT IN EVERYDAY ENGLISH

Examples in context

Read the examples aloud. Notice how the word fits the sentence, then think of a situation of your own.

  1. He admitted that jealousy was the ignoble reason for his unkind remark.
  2. The novel portrays the official's attempt to profit from the crisis as ignoble.

MAKE IT STICK

Quick word quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the word?

Complete the example using the word from this lesson.

He admitted that jealousy was the ________ reason for his unkind remark.
Show the answer

ignoble — Dishonourable or morally shameful.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “ignoble” about your own life.

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

Dishonourable or morally shameful.

Compare: He admitted that jealousy was the ignoble reason for his unkind remark.

Check the spelling and how the word fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

Word origin

From French or Latin ignobilis, formed with a negative element and a word meaning noble.

Did you know?

Ignoble is the opposite of noble when noble means morally admirable.

Explore related words

Open a word’s lesson when available, or explore entries that use the related term.

Make the word your own

  1. Say the word aloud and read an example sentence.
  2. Write a new sentence about something familiar to you.
  3. Cover the meaning and try explaining the word in your own words.

Continue with the app’s practice check, then try a sentence of your own to mark this word complete.

Practise this word in the app

Completion and saved words stay in this browser on this device.

Share this word

Save the image or share a link to this word.

@englishskillstudio

ignoble

/ɪɡˈnəʊbl/ (Adjective)

“Formal: this is a moral criticism, not a neutral description of someone's social background.”

englishskillstudio.com