honesty

American  

[on-uh-stee] / ˈɒn ə sti /

noun

• honesties
  plural

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.

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honesty British  

/ 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)

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Synonym Usage

See honor.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• overhonesty
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• honesties
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of honesty

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

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Explanation

If you tell the truth, you possess the quality of honesty. If someone offers a harsh criticism of your latest attempt at songwriting, you might say, "Thank you for your honesty." Even if you don't mean it. The original meaning of honesty had more to do with honor than truthfulness, although the two are naturally linked. The trait of honesty has been prized for centuries, and Shakespeare once wrote, "Honesty is the best policy. If I lose mine honor, I lose myself." The honesty flower, sometimes called the money plant, is so named because its coin-shaped seedpods are translucent, the idea of transparency symbolizing integrity.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

honesty honesties

I’m so moved by Katie’s honesty and bravery.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026

For someone convicted of defrauding investors, Holmes has a remarkably uncomplicated view of her own honesty.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

I have some doubts whether livestreaming the execution is advisable, but Mr. Hegseth should be commended for his honesty, and for showing Mr. Hasan mercy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

He played the role with honesty and accessibility, cracking jokes as a teen whose health condition was never mentioned in the series.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

All my talk about honesty and getting stuff off your chest, and I’m not being straight with him.

From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera

A sort of documentary of Bumper's last three days before retirement, the book tends to be a bit ostentatious in such honesties, as if they established Bumper's credibility.

From Time Magazine Archive

The honesties and fun that went into it seem childlike enough after 30 years of rough and sobering history.

From Time Magazine Archive

“What do you mean?” he asked her, and she heard a looming disagreement in his voice; he, too, believed in unbending, unambiguous honesties.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

If there be nobler eyes, More full of honor and of honesties, In finer head, on broader shoulders found, Then have I never met the man or hound.

From The Dog's Book of Verse by Various

The day for them, the night for me; the grimy cynical night that makes all cats grey, and all honesties of one complexion.

From Dramatic Technique by George Pierce Baker

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Related Words

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

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