dignify

UK: /ˈdɪɡnɪˌfaɪ/ US: /ˈdɪgnəˌfaɪ/ ,(dig′nə fī′)

Inflections of 'dignify' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

dignifies

v 3rd person singular

dignifying

v pres p

dignified

v past

dignified

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

dig•ni•fy /ˈdɪgnəˌfaɪ/   v. [~ + object] , -fied, -fy•ing. 

1. to confer honor or dignity upon;
   honor.
2. to give undeserved distinction or honor to:
   Don't dignify his silly scratchings by calling it scholarship.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

dig•ni•fy  (dig′nə fī′), v.t., -fied, -fy•ing. 

1. to confer honor or dignity upon;
   honor;
   ennoble.
2. to give a high-sounding title or name to;
   confer unmerited distinction upon:
   to dignify pedantry by calling it scholarship.

• Medieval Latin dignificāre, equivalent. to Latin dign(us) worthy + -ificāre -ify
• Old French dignefier
• late Middle English dignifien 1375–1425

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

dignify / ˈdɪɡnɪˌfaɪ/ verb ( -fies, -fying, -fied)(transitive)

1. to invest with honour or dignity; ennoble
2. to add distinction to
3. to add a semblance of dignity to, esp by the use of a pretentious name or title

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French dignifier, from Late Latin dignificāre, from Latin dignus worthy + facere to make