Definition of honesty in English:

noun

• 1The quality of being honest.

  ‘they spoke with convincing honesty about their fears’

  ‘it was not, in all honesty, an auspicious debut’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Keighley people recognise that the character and honesty of the man is beyond reproach.’
  • ‘Mr Bradshaw handed in references from a previous employer which spoke of her reliability and honesty.’
  • ‘But he will also be remembered as a man of integrity and honesty both on and off the pitch.’
  • ‘Sophie's honesty and frankness about her personal life and experiences is amazing.’
  • ‘Staff and colleagues expect a very high level of integrity and honesty in their leaders.’
  • ‘Almost his first act as Prime Minister was to go to parliament and to address the nation with almost brutal honesty.’
  • ‘You get an openness and honesty amongst these people that you'd never see in bigger firms.’
  • ‘Looking up at the large, unfriendly face, McBeath decided this was not the moment for honesty.’
  • ‘Every person has a responsibility to behave with integrity, honesty and fairness.’
  • ‘Several recent books and a documentary have questioned his honesty and integrity.’
  • ‘He always seems to bring an amount of honesty to his characters that make them seem real and sincere.’
  • ‘How do other companies deal with people who do not act with honesty and integrity?’
  • ‘Moving eastwards, we come to Germany which, in all honesty, I know very little about.’
  • ‘Particularly upsetting was the fact that our integrity and honesty was being called into question.’
  • ‘Brett looked down in surprise; in all honesty, he'd forgotten that she was there.’
  • ‘The consequence is that qualities such as honesty and integrity matter substantially more.’
  • ‘It is much easier to win elections by preaching hate and fear than understanding and honesty.’
  • ‘We also wish to make it clear that we have not at any stage questioned his openness or honesty as a serving officer.’
  • ‘We need to rebuild on the basis not of greed but truth, honesty, integrity.’
  • ‘Systematic and methodical rather than dashing, he had a reputation for honesty and directness.’

  Synonyms

  moral correctness, uprightness, honourableness, honour, integrity, morals, morality, ethics, principle, principles, high principles, nobility, righteousness, rectitude, right-mindedness, upstandingness

  truthfulness, truth, sincerity, candour, frankness, directness, forthrightness, openness, straightforwardness, plainness, genuineness, bluntness, outspokenness

  View synonyms

  1. 1.1British Referring to or using a way of charging for goods or services that relies on the customers to leave money in an unattended receptacle even though there is no one to collect their payments.
     ‘I bought potatoes and tomatoes from the roadside stall, putting £3 in the honesty box’

     ‘there's a well-stocked honesty bar which includes local wine’

     More example sentences

     • ‘You may also be interested in our honesty mark scheme.’
     • ‘Officials said in two or three years the network will have been expanded throughout the city, further improving the city's honesty system.’
     • ‘On the way was a trolley laden with plum jam, pickles and eggs; a selection went into the boot, a fiver into the honesty box.’
     • ‘I swear to god, half the rural economy of the English countryside is based on roadside honesty boxes.’
     • ‘Similar to the Austrian newspaper, the bagels were distributed to offices in the US capital with an honesty box payment system.’
     • ‘King's experimental technique for selling The Plant on an honesty basis - fans can read the chapter before they cough up their $1-appears successful.’
     • ‘First there was Radiohead's honesty box album with its track-stopping pay-what-you-please strategy.’
     • ‘In 2006 they worked with a village of farmers in Toge, Japan to create a sculptural honesty box at a nearby beauty spot.’
     • ‘The course is usually unmanned and collects its modest fees in an honesty box.’
     • ‘At the moment, if you want a game you just turn up and post your 20 fee into an old Royal Mail box which serves as an honesty box.’
     • ‘I know the two words striking fear, at least into many departments at my company, are his honesty boxes, where these rates would have to be clearly labelled.’
     • ‘Cold drinks and snacks are also available, payment for which should be placed in the honesty tray.’
     • ‘By the end of March 2004, a Summary Box (also referred to as an honesty box) containing standardised information will appear on credit card marketing literature.’
     • ‘The bookshop where I bought my newspaper from had an " honesty box ".’
     • ‘When they are first reopened the toilets will operate with an attendant and an ' honesty box '.’
     • ‘The honour system, with honesty boxes at each junction?’
     • ‘Please give a donation for admission at the honesty box.’
     • ‘They should just put out an honesty box and make lots of money.’
     • ‘Every week the money collected in the honesty box was totted up.’
     • ‘When he returned, Algie found more than $375 in an honesty box and notes from customers saying what they'd bought.’

• 2A European plant with purple or white flowers and round, flat, translucent seed pods which are used for indoor flower arrangements.

  Genus Lunaria, family Cruciferae

  Also called money plant

  Example sentences

  • ‘Common honesty is grown partly for its fragrant bright flowers in spring and early summer, but also for its unique oval and translucent seed-heads, much coveted by dried-flower arrangers.’
  • ‘Honesty flowers early in the year and provides nectar for early butterflies such as the orange tip.’