honest

American  

[on-ist] / ˈɒn ɪst /

adjective

1. truthful; ethical; fair; not lying or cheating.

   She's an honest person.

   Synonyms:

   just , honorable , fair , scrupulous , principled , moral , incorruptible , good , ethical , conscientious , veracious , truthful , trustworthy

   Antonyms:

   unconscionable , immoral , dishonest , corrupt , untruthful , mendacious , lying , dishonorable , unscrupulous , unprincipled , unethical

2. showing uprightness and fairness; not deceitful.

   Honest dealings remain central to the corporation's core values.

   Synonyms:

   upright

3. gained or obtained fairly.

   honest wealth.

4. sincere; frank; candid.

   He has an honest face.

   Give me your honest opinion.

   Synonyms:

   unaffected , sincere , simple , natural , ingenuous , guileless , genuine , artless , up-front , unreserved , unguarded , straightforward , straight , plain-spoken , plain , outspoken , out-front , open-hearted , open , free-hearted , free-spoken , frank , foursquare , forthright , forthcoming , direct , candid , aboveboard

   Antonyms:

   phony , insincere , guileful , disingenuous , artificial , artful , affected

5. genuine or unadulterated.

   honest commodities.

   Synonyms:

   unadulterated , pure , true , sure-enough , real , genuine , echt , bona fide , authentic , actual

   Antonyms:

   sham , pseudo , phony , mock , fake , bogus

6. respectable; having a good reputation.

   an honest name.

   Synonyms:

   reputable , estimable

   Antonyms:

   disreputable

7. reliable in accuracy or truth; true; just.

   honest weights.

   Synonyms:

   reliable , precise , faithful , exact , accurate , trusty

   Antonyms:

   unreliable

8. humble, plain, or unadorned.

9. Archaic.  chaste; virtuous.

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honest British  

/ ˈɒnɪst /

adjective

1. not given to lying, cheating, stealing, etc; trustworthy

2. not false or misleading; genuine

3. just or fair

   honest wages

4. characterized by sincerity and candour

   an honest appraisal

5. without pretensions or artificial traits

   honest farmers

6. archaic  (of a woman) respectable

7. a mediator in disputes, esp international ones

8. slang:school  (interjection) genuinely, really

9. 1. (adjective) completely authentic

   2. (interjection) an expression of affirmation or surprise

10. to marry (a woman, esp one who is pregnant) to prevent scandal

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honest Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing honest

• come by (honestly)
• open (honest) and aboveboard

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Other Word Forms

• honestness noun
• overhonest adjective
• overhonestly adverb
• overhonestness noun
• quasi-honest adjective
• quasi-honestly adverb

Etymology

Origin of honest

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English honeste, from Middle French, from Latin honestus “honorable,” equivalent to hones- (variant stem of honōs ) honor + -tus adjective suffix

Example Sentences

But I'll be honest, it is also another thing to worry about.

From BBC

I regretted being honest, because in the moment, it felt as though honesty had desecrated the connection Allen and I were building.

From Los Angeles Times

"I have always been in the camp that you stick with the manager... I'm angry with the players, if I'm totally honest," Carragher said on CBS Sports.

From BBC

"The vast majority of people who arrived in Sweden are honest and law-abiding individuals, but there are also those who have committed offences."

From Barron's

I regret the difficulties this may have created for honest folk working at the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• authentic
• conscientious
• decent
• equitable
• fair
• forthright
• genuine
• honorable
• impartial
• proper
• reliable
• sincere
• straightforward
• true
• trustworthy
• virtuous