English Explanatory Dictionary

honest

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Scrupulous with regard to telling the truth; not given to swindling, lying, or fraud; upright.
  2. True, especially as far as is known by the person making the statement; fair; unbiased.
  3. In good faith; without malice.
  4. Accurate.
  5. Authentic; full.
  6. Earned or acquired in a fair manner.
  7. Open; frank.
  8. Decent; honourable; suitable; becoming.
  9. Chaste; faithful; virtuous.
verb
  1. To adorn or grace; to honour; to make becoming, appropriate, or honourable.
adv
  1. Honestly; really.

Pronunciation

/ˈɒn.ɪst/ /ˈɔː.nɪst/ /ˈɑ.nɪst/ /ˈɑ.nəst/ En-us-honest.ogg /ˈɔn.ɪst/ /ˈɔn.əst/ /ɒn.ə.st/ [ˈɔ̟n.ə.st] /(h)ɔ.nɛsʈ/

Word forms

honest more honest honester most honest honestest honests honesting honested

Etymology

From Middle English honest, honeste (“honourable, appropriate, excellent”), from Old French honeste, from Latin honestus, from honor. For the verb, see Latin honestāre (“to clothe or adorn with honour”), and compare French honester. Displaced native Old English sōþfæst (literally “truth-firm”).

Synonyms

earnest fair dinkum forthright upfront foursquare frank genuine honest legitimate on the level on the up-and-up square straight straight dinkum straightforward true truthful trustworthy up front veracious veridical

Antonyms

dishonest hypocritical insincere shady

Related words

truth veracity

Derived words

God honest truth God's honest truth honest as the day honest broker honest comment honest Indian honest injun honest John honestly honest mistake honestness honest-to-God honest to God honest to gods honest-to-gods honest-to-goodness honest to goodness honest-to-Hannah honest to Pete honesty if I'm honest in my honest opinion keep someone honest locks only keep honest people honest make an honest woman overhonest to be honest Tukey's honest significance test turn an honest penny underhonest unhonest
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