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What does the Latin root of "integrity" mean?

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integrity

American  

[in-teg-ri-tee] / ɪnˈtɛg rɪ ti /

noun

• integrities
  plural

1. 

   adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.

   Synonyms:

   virtue, probity, rectitude

   Antonyms:

   dishonesty

2. the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished.

   to preserve the integrity of the empire.

3. a sound, unimpaired, or perfect condition.

   the integrity of a ship's hull.

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integrity British  

/ ɪnˈtɛɡrɪtɪ /

noun

1. adherence to moral principles; honesty

2. the quality of being unimpaired; soundness

3. unity; wholeness

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Synonym Usage

See honor.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• integrities
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of integrity

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English integrite, from Latin integritās; see integer, -ity

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Explanation

Integrity is a personal quality of fairness that we all aspire to — unless you're a dishonest, immoral scoundrel, of course. Having integrity means doing the right thing in a reliable way. It's a personality trait that we admire, since it means a person has a moral compass that doesn't waver. It literally means having "wholeness" of character, just as an integer is a "whole number" with no fractions. Physical objects can display integrity, too — if you're going over a rickety old bridge that sways in the wind, you might question its structural integrity.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

integrity integrities

I will be doing my very best, because from an integrity standpoint, I think it’s really insulting to do anything else.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026

The Justice Department says its election monitoring efforts are intended to ensure compliance with voting laws and protect election integrity.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

Former South Africa bowler Vernon Philander said he prefers the idea of switching balls during the match if conditions require it, but that would raise questions over the Test's integrity.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

A U.A.E. official said the government is “firmly committed to combating money laundering, terrorist financing and all forms of illicit finance. Safeguarding the integrity of its financial system is a national priority.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

I copied the text, not including Caravaggio’s full name because, in a selective display of integrity, I decided that would be cheating.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

“There is no information to hide; there are institutional integrities to preserve,” they wrote.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 17, 2019

And forthright includes those intellectual and moral integrities which are essential to the maintenance of our republic.

From Time Magazine Archive

Conscious of their several responsibilities, and in the light of their various integrities, they wrote carefully and in low key.

From Time Magazine Archive

He has no right to indulge recklessly in intellectual and moral integrities.

From Soul of a Bishop by H. G. (Herbert George) Wells

There were, behind this vision of the symbol by which God made Himself manifest to man, reserves of strict integrities.

From Old Crow by Alice Brown

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Related Words

• honesty
• principle
• probity
• purity
• rectitude
• sincerity
• virtue

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