DictionaryAI

honesty

noun
ON-uh-stee/ˈɑnəsti/UKON-is-tee/ˈɒn.ɪ.sti/AUSAWN-is-tee/ˈɔn.ɪ.sti/

Pluralhonesties

4 meanings of honesty

Practice

  1. 1
    nouncountable or uncountable
    The quality of being truthful and not cheating or lying.

    Like a clean glass of water: there is nothing hidden inside.

    We value honesty in our friends.

    Her honesty made everyone trust her.

    Similartruthfulness, integrity, candor, sincerity, frankness

    Oppositedishonesty, deceit, duplicity, deception

    Note
  2. 2
    nouncountable
    A garden plant with flat, round seedpods that turn silvery and see-through when dry.

    Like little see-through coins hanging on a stem.

    She planted honesty along the back fence for its pretty seedpods.

    The dried honesty shimmered silver in the winter light.

    Note
  3. 3
    nounobsoletecountable or uncountable
    Honorable, decent behavior that earns respect from others.
    Have ye no wit, manners, nor honesty, but to gabble like tinkers at this time of night?
    c. 1601, William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”Here, honesty means decent, honorable behavior that earns respect.
    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    nounobsoletecountable or uncountable
    Sexual purity, especially not having sex outside of marriage.
    Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Middle English honeste, meaning honour or integrity, from the Old French word honesté. The plant is named this because you can see its seeds through its clear pods.