time-honored (adjective) — Honored because of great age, or long usage.
time-honoured, time honored, time honoured all sound exactly like time-honored but have different meanings and spellings. Mixing these up is one of the most common spelling mistakes in English.
time-honored
adjective
Honored because of great age, or long usage.
How to Remember the Difference
- → Focus on meaning first — once you know what each word means, the correct spelling follows naturally.
- → Write a test sentence for each word and save it as a reference.
- → When in doubt, look up the definition — if it doesn't match your sentence, switch to the homophone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a homophone of time-honored?
time-honoured, time honored, time honoured are homophones of "time-honored". They sound identical when spoken but have different meanings and spellings.
What is the difference between time-honored and time-honoured?
"time-honored" means: Honored because of great age, or long usage.. "time-honoured" means: Honored because of great age, or long usage.. They sound the same but are used in completely different contexts.
What is a homophone?
A homophone is a word that sounds exactly like another word but has a different meaning and often a different spelling. Examples include "their / there / they're", "to / too / two", and "time-honored / time-honoured". Homophones are a common source of spelling and grammar mistakes.
How do I remember the difference between time-honored and time-honoured?
A good strategy is to memorize a short sentence that uses each word correctly, then recall that sentence when you are unsure. For example, focus on the meaning first — then let the spelling follow from context. Reading and writing regularly also helps these distinctions become automatic.