Respektables

Respektables is a term used in several languages to denote a group regarded as socially respectable or to describe the concept of respectability. The exact meaning and connotations vary by language and historical period. In Romance-language contexts, the corresponding form is often respetables, while in Dutch and other Germanic languages cognate forms appear to label the established, respectable classes.

In historical and sociological writing, respektables (or its cognates) can refer to the conventional middle- and upper-class segments of society, particularly when contrasted with more marginalized or popular groups. The term can carry neutral, descriptive, or evaluative nuance depending on the author, period, and regional usage.

In journalism and cultural discourse, respektables may also function as a shorthand for the audience or public seen as conforming to social norms of propriety, or as a label applied to a social or civic elite. Because it is a descriptive label rather than a formal institution, its implications are context-dependent and can range from ordinary description to critique.

The phrase may also appear as a proper noun in local contexts, used by clubs, associations, or cultural projects that adopt the term to signal alignment with tradition, propriety, or social standing. When used as a name, its meaning is defined by the organization rather than by a universal definition.

See also: Respectability; Social class; Audience.