Words / B2

rep-yoo-TAYSHUN/ˌrepjuˈteɪʃn/

Reputation is what people think of you from the past: a reputation for punctuality; damage a reputation. Rumour is unverified talk (already in the dictionary); fame is being widely known. The sixth form’s reputation collapsed after the bus cuts. Mix-up: repetition is doing again. Do not treat one viral clip as a whole reputation.

Meaning

The opinion people have of a person or organisation, based on the past.

Examples

• “The sixth form’s reputation for punctuality collapsed after the bus cuts.”
• “A reputation for fair marking featured in the handbook, which is the quality sense.”

Good to know

a reputation for / as; damage / restore a reputation. Contrast: rumour / fame. Trap: repetition. News and school marketing. Earned public view, not a one-off post.

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