honesty
ON-ih-stee
Honesty (noun) means the quality of being truthful and sincere. Example: “Thank you for your honesty about the mistake; it helped us fix it quickly.”
noun
1
The quality of being truthful and sincere.
"Thank you for your honesty about the mistake; it helped us fix it quickly."
"Honesty is the foundation of any good relationship."
"I respect his honesty, even when it's hard to hear."
2
A plant grown for its papery, translucent seed pods.
"Honesty grows easily in shady corners of the garden and seeds itself every year."
"The silvery seed pods of honesty look lovely in a dried flower arrangement."
"She arranged dried honesty stems in a vase for winter decoration."
How to use honesty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeing truthful and sincere in what you say and do.
Common pairings
brutal honesty
in all honesty
a policy of honesty
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Word forms
- Plural
- honesties
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Thank you for your _____ about the mistake; it helped us fix it quickly.
Etymology
From Old French honesté, ultimately from Latin honestus; the plant sense comes from the way its seeds show through its papery pods.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for honesty
See all rhymes for honesty →Frequently asked questions
What does “honesty” mean?
The word “honesty” means the quality of being truthful and sincere. In plain terms, being truthful and sincere in what you say and do.
How do you pronounce “honesty”?
“Honesty” is pronounced ON-ih-stee (/ˈɑ.nɪ.sti/ in IPA).
How do you use “honesty” in a sentence?
Here is “honesty” used in a sentence: “Honesty is the foundation of any good relationship.”
What is the opposite of “honesty”?
The opposite of “honesty” — its antonyms — is dishonesty.
What part of speech is “honesty”?
“Honesty” is a noun.
Where does the word “honesty” come from?
The word “honesty” comes from Latin. From Old French honesté, ultimately from Latin honestus; the plant sense comes from the way its seeds show through its papery pods.
Is “honesty” a common word?
“Honesty” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “honesty” have?
“Honesty” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the quality of being truthful and sincere.
What is the difference between honesty and integrity?
Honesty is being truthful and sincere in what you say, while integrity is the broader quality of holding to strong moral principles even when no one is watching. An honest person tells the truth; a person with integrity consistently does what is right.
What is the difference between honesty and truthfulness?
The two are very close, but 'truthfulness' refers specifically to telling the truth, while 'honesty' also covers sincerity, fairness, and not deceiving others through actions as well as words. Honesty is the wider quality.
Is honesty really the name of a plant?
Yes. Besides the moral quality, 'honesty' is the common name of a garden plant grown for its flat, papery, translucent seed pods. The dried pods are often used in decorative flower arrangements.
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