trustworthiness

American

[truhst-wur-thee-nis] / ˈtrʌstˌwɜr ði nɪs /

noun

the quality of being deserving of trust or confidence; dependability; reliability.

We look for students who exhibit the highest ethical standards, as demonstrated by honesty, trustworthiness, and high moral character.

Etymology

Origin of trustworthiness

trustworthy ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Explanation

Trustworthiness is the quality of a person or a thing that inspires reliability. If you want a pet known for its trustworthiness, choose a loyal and obedient dog. People or things can be described with the adjective trustworthy, and when you add the suffix -ness to it, you make the word into a noun describing the quality or trait of being trustworthy. A person can be known for trustworthiness in keeping promises, and a newspaper can be worthy of trust for correct reporting.

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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.

We have evolved to view linguistic fluency as a proxy for intelligence, and engagement and helpfulness as indicators of trustworthiness.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

The boards have been criticized in the past for allowing officers to remain with the department even when they are prohibited from handling evidence or working in the field due to concerns about trustworthiness.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

"It is precisely this deliberate openness and community model that upholds the neutrality and trustworthiness essential for a global encyclopedia: no single individual, company, or agenda can exert influence over the work."

From Barron's • Nov. 14, 2025

Jon Stewart, the Walter Cronkite of Comedy Central’s fake newsroom, says so every time “The Daily Show” is hailed for its perceived trustworthiness in the news and information space.

From Salon • Sep. 26, 2025

Three men did meet Holmes’s standard of trustworthiness.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023