honor system

noun

: a system (as at a college) whereby persons are trusted to abide by the regulations (as for a code of conduct) without supervision or surveillance

Examples of honor system in a Sentence

Customers are on the honor system to pay for any software they choose to purchase.

Recent Examples on the Web

Voters must also agree, on an honor system, to watch every film in a category before casting a ballot, while the Academy spotlights emerging, diverse and international filmmakers on its social channels and in the museum. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Oct. 2026

Stick to the honor system while Republicans looted and stole? — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026

Continue reading … ‘NEVER-ENDING’ — Huge number of noncitizens found on voter rolls as Mike Lee explodes on 'honor system'. — FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Baggage claim is, indeed, a lawless place, one of the last institutions on earth that continues to rely on an honor system. — Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for honor system

• cryptosystem
• ecosystem
• intersystem
• multisystem
• photosystem
• subsystem

Kids Definition

honor system

noun

: a system (as at a school) where persons are trusted to follow the rules without supervision