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.

Related Words

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