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.

---

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)

---

Synonym Usage

See honor.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• overhonesty
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• honesties
  plural

Etymology

Origin of honesty

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

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

"Using AI to tell queer stories can feel unfair to existing creatives who are already capable of crafting these narratives with honesty and depth," Natts Jadaone, writer of the film "Rookie", told AFP.

From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026

Levy's defence lawyer, Siobhan Grey, told the court that the alleged rape victim "is not telling the truth about the alleged attack and that her credibility, reliability and honesty are called into question".

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026

Greenspan’s argument was that the consumer was adequately protected by the businessman’s profit-seeking, which in turn depended on maintaining a reputation for honesty and fair-dealing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026

Our garbage, he’s convinced, “speaks to us,” and in its honesty he finds the relief that keeps him sane in the bosom of squalor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026

Back then, I would have told Twig everything, and Twig would have said, Tell me more, and we would have talked and talked until my throat was scratched and raw with honesty.

From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller

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

It is in vain to palter with our conscience: there are not two honours—two honesties.

From Tales and Novels — Volume 05 by Edgeworth, Maria

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 Baker, George Pierce

Related Words

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