: free from all traces of deceit or duplicity
Examples of aboveboard in a Sentence
Adjective
The committee tried to be fair and aboveboard in its hiring.
an aboveboard and responsible proposal
She acted in a completely open and aboveboard way.
Recent Examples on the Web
New York Times, 11 May 2022
Live bands already perform at Catonsville establishments, and the bill will bring current practices aboveboard.
—Taylor Deville, baltimoresun.com, 8 Oct. 2019
Nearly a century later, Morris’s great-nephew Kevin is also in the beverage business—but aboveboard, as the owner of Loma Brewing Company in Northern California.
—Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 2 July 2019
Ashley Luthern, Journal Sentinel, 3 May 2023
That panel acted as a seal of approval from the profession as a whole, a sign that the competition would be rigorous and aboveboard.
—Curbed, 17 Mar. 2022
Even the most successful artists who appear in Rap Capital know the push and pull of desiring aboveboard success and gravitating toward dangerous opportunities.
—Jack Hamilton, The Atlantic, 18 Oct. 2022
Far from being eradicated, the black market is booming in plain sight, luring customers away from aboveboard retailers with their cheaper — if untested and unregulated — product.
—Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2022
Nevertheless, questions remain about how public officials and regulators will ensure everyone from the company’s top investors to the subcontractor who paves the parking lot is aboveboard.
—Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2022
Few of the family’s other aboveboard ventures have worked out.
—New York Times, 24 Dec. 2021
Spur someone to constructive action by being direct and aboveboard.
—Tribune Content Agency, oregonlive, 18 Aug. 2021
Surely, everything happening behind the scenes in the act of crafting self-driving cars is completely aboveboard and hunky-dory.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 23 June 2021
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Adverb
But now that going legal is an option, legacy businesses like Buddy’s are being watched over by officials who hope to see the entire industry move aboveboard.
—New York Times, 11 May 2022
Live bands already perform at Catonsville establishments, and the bill will bring current practices aboveboard.
—Taylor Deville, baltimoresun.com, 8 Oct. 2019
Nearly a century later, Morris’s great-nephew Kevin is also in the beverage business—but aboveboard, as the owner of Loma Brewing Company in Northern California.
—Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 2 July 2019
Adjective
There was a lot of suspicion about whether the DNA testing that had been done was really aboveboard and accurate.
—Ashley Luthern, Journal Sentinel, 3 May 2023
That panel acted as a seal of approval from the profession as a whole, a sign that the competition would be rigorous and aboveboard.
—Curbed, 17 Mar. 2022
Even the most successful artists who appear in Rap Capital know the push and pull of desiring aboveboard success and gravitating toward dangerous opportunities.
—Jack Hamilton, The Atlantic, 18 Oct. 2022
Far from being eradicated, the black market is booming in plain sight, luring customers away from aboveboard retailers with their cheaper — if untested and unregulated — product.
—Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2022
Nevertheless, questions remain about how public officials and regulators will ensure everyone from the company’s top investors to the subcontractor who paves the parking lot is aboveboard.
—Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2022
Few of the family’s other aboveboard ventures have worked out.
—New York Times, 24 Dec. 2021
Spur someone to constructive action by being direct and aboveboard.
—Tribune Content Agency, oregonlive, 18 Aug. 2021
Surely, everything happening behind the scenes in the act of crafting self-driving cars is completely aboveboard and hunky-dory.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 23 June 2021
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aboveboard.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adverb
above entry 2 + board entry 1; from the difficulty of cheating at cards when the hands are above the table
Articles Related to aboveboard
Dictionary Entries Near aboveboard
Cite this Entry
“Aboveboard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aboveboard. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
aboveboard
adverb or adjective
above·board
ə-ˈbəv-ˌbōrd,
-ˌbȯrd
: without concealment or deceit
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