honesty

[on-uh-stee]

noun

plural

honesties 

1. the quality or fact of being honest; uprightness and fairness.

   Synonyms: rectitude, probity, integrity
   Antonyms: dishonesty

2. truthfulness, sincerity, or frankness.

   Synonyms: veracity, candor

3. freedom from deceit or fraud.

4. Botany.,  a plant, Lunaria annua, of the mustard family, having clusters of purple flowers and semitransparent, satiny pods.

5. Obsolete.,  chastity.

honesty

/ ˈɒnɪstɪ /

noun

1. the condition of being honest

2. sincerity or fairness

3. archaic,  virtue or respect

4. Also called: moonwort.  satinpod. a purple-flowered SE European plant, Lunaria annua, cultivated for its flattened silvery pods, which are used for indoor decoration: family Brassicaceae (crucifers)

Other Word Forms

• overhonesty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of honesty¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English honeste, from Middle French, from Latin honestās; honest, -ty ²

Synonym Study

See honor.

Example Sentences

People respond to “that level of honesty,” Miquita Oliver, Allen’s longtime friend, said on the “Miss Me?” podcast last week.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Roth’s honesty with himself acts like a solvent.

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Even the rich and powerful have been charmed by the mayoral candidate’s charisma, honesty and ruthless positivity.

Read more on Salon

While Allen has never shied away from doling out the particulars of her life, her penchant for radical honesty on “West End Girl” turns the dissolution of her marriage into a mutually involved process.

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After all, he cheats at golf, showing zero respect to the very game that holds the ideal of personal honesty highest of all.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• candor 
• confidence 
• fairness 
• faithfulness 
• frankness 
• honor 
• integrity 
• loyalty 
• morality 
• probity 
• rectitude 
• responsibility 
• self-respect 
• sincerity 
• trustworthiness 
• veracity 
• virtue