honest

1 of 2

adjective

hon·​est ˈä-nəst How to pronounce honest (audio)
1
a
: free from fraud or deception : legitimate, truthful
an honest plea
an honest presentation of facts
b
: genuine, real
making honest stops at stop signsChristian Science Monitor
c
: humble, plain
good honest food
2
a
: reputable, respectable
honest decent people
b
chiefly British : good, worthy
an honest fellow
3
: worthy of praise
an honest day's work
put forth an honest effort
4
a
: marked by integrity
honest merchants
b
: marked by free, forthright, and sincere expression : frank
an honest appraisal
an honest discussion
c
: direct and uncomplicated : innocent, simple
some good honest sleep

honest

2 of 2

adverb

1
: in a genuine or honest (see honest entry 1) manner : honestly
I have ever found thee honest trueWilliam Shakespeare
2
: with all sincerity
I didn't do it, honest
Choose the Right Synonym for honest

upright, honest, just, conscientious, scrupulous, honorable mean having or showing a strict regard for what is morally right.

upright implies a strict adherence to moral principles.

a stern and upright minister

honest stresses adherence to such virtues as truthfulness, candor, or fairness.

known for being honest in business dealings

just stresses conscious choice and regular practice of what is right or equitable.

workers given just compensation

conscientious and scrupulous imply an active moral sense governing all one's actions and painstaking efforts to follow one's conscience.

conscientious in the completion of her assignments
scrupulous in carrying out the terms of the will

honorable suggests a firm holding to codes of right behavior and the guidance of a high sense of honor and duty.

a difficult but honorable decision

Examples of honest in a Sentence

Adjective He says that it's impossible to find an honest politician. These criminals pose a danger to honest citizens. He has an honest face. Just give me an honest answer. If you want my honest opinion, you should get a job. To be perfectly honest, I don't want to go. He gave us a painfully honest account of his childhood. It was an honest error. He still goes to the office every morning and puts in an honest day's work.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
This Fire sign is notorious for its #nofilter ways and brutally honest approach to life, always speaking their mind without hesitation. Valerie Mesa, People.com, 6 Dec. 2024 An honest assessment of human behavior is that price is all that matters. Korok Ray, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024 Real news can be honest, hopeful, credible, constructive. Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Dec. 2024 In this novel about the shape-shifting nature of love, Parsons captures Kit’s grief in aching and honest terms. Annabel Gutterman, TIME, 6 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for honest 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin honestus honorable, from honos, honor honor

Adverb

derivative of honest entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

1654, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of honest was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near honest

Cite this Entry

“Honest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honest. Accessed 13 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

honest

1 of 2 adjective
hon·​est ˈän-əst How to pronounce honest (audio)
1
: free from fraud or trickery : truthful
an honest plea
2
: being just what is indicated : genuine, real
made an honest mistake
3
: good in the eyes of society : respectable
poor but honest people
4
5
: frank, open

honest

2 of 2 adverb
: to tell the truth : I mean it
I didn't do it, honest I didn't

More from Merriam-Webster on honest

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