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definitions

honest

[on-ist]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR honest ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

Origin of honest

1250–1300; Middle English honeste < Middle French < Latin honestus honorable, equivalent to hones- (variant stem of honōs) honor + -tus adj. suffix
Related formshon·est·ness, nouno·ver·hon·est, adjectiveo·ver·hon·est·ly, adverbo·ver·hon·est·ness, nounqua·si-hon·est, adjectivequa·si-hon·est·ly, adverb

Synonyms for honest

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR honest ON THESAURUS.COM
1. just, incorruptible, trusty, trustworthy. 2. fair. 4. straightforward, candid. 5, 9. pure.

Antonyms for honest

1. dishonest, corrupt.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for honest

virtuous, genuine, straightforward, fair, impartial, decent, sincere, trustworthy, authentic, equitable, conscientious, proper, honorable, reliable, forthright, true, direct, ethical, frank, high-minded

Examples from the Web for honest

Contemporary Examples of honest

Historical Examples of honest

  • This here fellow, now, couldn't make an honest livin' like that, I bet you.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • He's too honest entirely to stale the value of a pin, let alone a carpetbag.

    Brave and Bold

    Horatio Alger

  • The man may be honest, captain: Don't trouble yourself too much.

    Brave and Bold

    Horatio Alger

  • I never was so honest for so long together since my matriculation.

    Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)

    Samuel Richardson

  • Never had the pinto dodged his share of honest running, and this day was no exception.

British Dictionary definitions for honest

honest

adjective

not given to lying, cheating, stealing, etc; trustworthy
not false or misleading; genuine
just or fairhonest wages
characterized by sincerity and candouran honest appraisal
without pretensions or artificial traitshonest farmers
archaic (of a woman) respectable
honest broker a mediator in disputes, esp international ones
honest Injun (interjection) school slang genuinely, really
honest to God or honest to goodness
  1. (adjective)completely authentic
  2. (interjection)an expression of affirmation or surprise
make an honest woman of to marry (a woman, esp one who is pregnant) to prevent scandal
Derived Formshonestness, noun

Word Origin for honest

C13: from Old French honeste, from Latin honestus distinguished, from honōs honour
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for honest
adj.

c.1300, "respectable, decent, of neat appearance," also "free from fraud," from Old French honeste (12c.; Modern French honnête), from Latin honestus "honorable, respected, regarded with honor," figuratively "deserving honor, honorable, respectable," from honos (see honor (n.)). Main modern sense of "dealing fairly, truthful" is c.1400, as is sense of "virtuous." Phrase to make an honest woman of "marry a woman after seduction" is from 1620s.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with honest

honest

In addition to the idioms beginning with honest

  • honest to God

also see:

  • come by (honestly)
  • open (honest) and aboveboard
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.