Reportedly remained respectable (5)
I believe the answer is:
staid
'respectable' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'reportedly remained' is the wordplay.
'reportedly' shows a homophone (sound like).
'remained' becomes 'stayed' ('stay' can be a synonym of 'remain').
'stayed' is a homophone of 'STAID'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for staid that I've seen before include "Demure" , "Sedate, decorous" , "Stiff; serious minded" , "Restrained (in character)" , "Serious or sober in character" .)