dishonesty
Americannoun
plural
dishonesties-
lack of honesty; a disposition to lie, cheat, or steal.
-
a dishonest act; fraud.
noun
-
lack of honesty or fairness; deceit
-
a deceiving act or statement; fraud
Usage
What does dishonesty mean? Dishonesty is the opposite of honesty—it’s the act or practice of being intentionally deceptive or not fully truthful in some way. When a person is accused of dishonesty, it usually means they are frequently or habitually untruthful—that they tend to lie often or that they often hide or leave out part of the truth. Dishonesty involves being intentionally deceptive—deceiving people or misleading them through lies, the omission of all or parts of the truth, or the twisting of the truth. The adjective dishonest is used to describe someone or something as intentionally deceptive or not fully truthful in some way. Example: The level of your dishonesty is astounding—I can’t believe a word you say.
Etymology
Origin of dishonesty
First recorded in 1350–1400, dishonesty is from the Middle English word deshonestee. See dis- 1, honesty
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
On Upwork, there are strict regulations surrounding academic dishonesty that restrict the types of services I can advertise and what clients can officially propose.
From Slate • Mar. 20, 2026
He accused the health board of "callous evasion and dishonesty".
From BBC • Jan. 18, 2026
Detecting dishonesty requires people to interpret social cues, judge intent, and decide whether someone's words are trustworthy.
From Science Daily • Nov. 17, 2025
Whatever else may be said about Mr. Murray, he can’t be accused of dishonesty or cowardice.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 17, 2025
I can’t imagine isolating a gene for murder, or cowardice, or dishonesty.
From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
