honest

Meaning

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. (obsolete) Decent; honourable; suitable; becoming.
9. (obsolete) Chaste; faithful; virtuous.

Verb

To adorn or grace; to honour; to make becoming, appropriate, or honourable.

Adv

Honestly; really.

Synonyms

sincere

upright

frank

straightforward

⬆️

truthful

true

trustworthy

faithful

candid

honorable

straight

good

👍

fair

loyal

just

righteous

virtuous

respectable

real

dependable

reliable

open

genuine

direct

upstanding

simple

proper

trusty

honourable

guileless

innocent

😇

forthright

decent

authentic

correct

veracious

conscientious

kosher

actually

worthy

accurate

really

clean

staunch

believable

right

pure

credible

above-board

kind

Translations

honnête

onesto

ehrlich

honesto

sincero

🔉

sincero

aufrichtig

honesto

eerlijk

honrado

τίμιος

sincère

leale

eerzaam

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɒnɪst/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: honest

Cognate with Latin: honestāre

Cognate with French: honester

Inherited from Old English: sōþfæst

In summary

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”).