integrity

7 synonyms and 5 antonyms for integrity, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — Firm adherence to honesty and strong moral principles.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

unity

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

honesty

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

uprightness probity rectitude soundness wholeness

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

Firm adherence to honesty and strong moral principles.

“He showed real integrity when he admitted the mistake instead of blaming a colleague.”

honesty uprightness probity rectitude soundness wholeness unity

Opposites

chicanery iniquity underhandedness duplicity

2. noun

The state of being whole, sound, and structurally undamaged.

“Cracks in the wall threatened the structural integrity of the old barn.”

Opposites

breach

How to use integrity

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

act with integrity structural integrity data integrity

Etymology

From Latin integritas, "wholeness, soundness," from integer, "whole, untouched."

Full origin of integrity →

Frequently asked questions

What does “integrity” mean?

The word “integrity” means firm adherence to honesty and strong moral principles. In plain terms, being honest and principled, or (for objects/systems) being structurally sound and undamaged.

How do you pronounce “integrity”?

“Integrity” is pronounced ihn-TEHG-ruh-tee (/ɪnˈtɛɡɹəti/ in IPA).

How do you use “integrity” in a sentence?

Here is “integrity” used in a sentence: “She has a reputation for integrity and always keeps her word.”

What part of speech is “integrity”?

“Integrity” is a noun.

Where does the word “integrity” come from?

The word “integrity” comes from Latin. From Latin integritas, "wholeness, soundness," from integer, "whole, untouched.".

Is “integrity” a common word?

“Integrity” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “integrity” have?

“Integrity” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: firm adherence to honesty and strong moral principles.

What is the difference between integrity and honesty?

Honesty is telling the truth and not deceiving others. Integrity is broader: it is firm adherence to honesty and strong moral principles as a consistent way of living. A person of integrity is honest, but also reliably principled even when no one is watching.

What is the difference between the moral and physical senses of 'integrity'?

One sense is moral: firm adherence to honesty and strong principles, as in 'a leader of integrity'. The other is physical: the state of being whole, sound, and undamaged, as in the integrity of a hull or a data file. Both trace back to the idea of being whole and unbroken.

What words commonly go with 'integrity'?

Common phrases include 'person of integrity', 'professional integrity', 'moral integrity', and 'personal integrity' in the ethical sense, and 'structural integrity' or 'data integrity' in the sense of wholeness. These collocations signal which meaning is intended.

People also searched

unity breach honesty chicanery rectitude probity duplicity iniquity soundness wholeness underhandedness uprightness

Nearby words

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