dishonesty

noun

dis·​hon·​es·​ty (ˌ)dis-ˈä-nə-stē 

 also  (ˌ)diz-

1

: lack of honesty or integrity : disposition to defraud or deceive

2

: a dishonest act : fraud

Synonyms

• deceit
• deceitfulness

Examples of dishonesty in a Sentence

Are you accusing him of dishonesty?

her dishonesty about what happened

Recent Examples on the Web

Board meetings saw jeering, insults and accusations of dishonesty as members spoke, and frustrated parents accused leadership of lying and maliciously molding the process to a preferred outcome. —Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025

What looks like dishonesty is often an attempt to catch up. —Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025

Advertisement But dishonesty of this nature does not yield good art—at least, not truthful art. —Esther Lin, Time, 12 June 2025

The arrival of sophisticated AI might, at first glance, seem like a threat to genuine learning, potentially reducing the need for deep thought or even enabling widespread academic dishonesty. —Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dishonesty

• honesty

Kids Definition

dishonesty

noun

dis·​hon·​es·​ty (ˈ)dis-ˈän-ə-stē 

: lack of honesty : the quality of being dishonest