respecter: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, literary
Quick answer
What does “respecter” mean?
A person or thing that shows respect or consideration for something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person or thing that shows respect or consideration for something.
Often used in the phrase 'no respecter of persons/things' to indicate that something treats everyone or everything equally, without discrimination based on status, wealth, or other distinctions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The phrase is equally formal and literary in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries a slightly archaic or elevated tone. Often used to make a philosophical or moral point.
Frequency
Low frequency in both varieties, almost exclusively found in the fixed phrase.
Grammar
How to Use “respecter” in a Sentence
[be] no respecter of [noun phrase][be] a respecter of [noun phrase]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in formal writing about ethics: 'The market is no respecter of sentiment.'
Academic
Used in social sciences, history, or literature to discuss impartial forces or principles.
Everyday
Very rare in casual speech. Might be used for rhetorical effect.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “respecter”
- Using it as a common noun instead of in the fixed phrase (e.g., 'He is a big respecter' sounds odd).
- Confusing it with 'respective'.
- Misspelling as 'respected' or 'respectful'.
- Using it in an informal context where it sounds stilted.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is grammatically possible but highly unusual and formal. It is overwhelmingly used in the negative fixed phrase 'no respecter of...'.
It originates from the Bible (Acts 10:34), where the Apostle Peter says, 'God is no respecter of persons,' meaning God shows no partiality. This established the literary and formal tone of the expression.
No. The related verb is 'to respect'. 'Respecter' is only a noun.
Use it almost exclusively in the pattern '[Something powerful/abstract] is no respecter of [category].' For example: 'Time is no respecter of beauty.' Using it positively ('a respecter of...') will sound very formal or archaic.
A person or thing that shows respect or consideration for something.
Respecter is usually formal, literary in register.
Respecter: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈspɛktə/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪˈspɛktər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “no respecter of persons”
- “no respecter of rank/wealth/status”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A RESPECTER shows RESPECT. It's often NOT ('no respecter') doing so, treating all the same.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE/FAIRNESS IS IMPARTIALITY (embodied in 'no respecter of persons').
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following sentences is 'respecter' used most naturally and idiomatically?