Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

honestness

noun
Save Word
hon·​est·​ness
plural -es

Definition of honestness

: the quality or state of being honest

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

First Known Use of honestness

15th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for honestness

Middle English honestnes, from honest entry 1 + -nes -ness

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about honestness

Time Traveler for honestness

Time Traveler

The first known use of honestness was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Statistics for honestness

Cite this Entry

“Honestness.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honestness. Accessed 10 December 2019.

Comments on honestness

What made you want to look up honestness? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

reiterate

Listen to the pronounciation of reiterate

to state or do over again or repeatedly

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Semantic Drift Quiz

  • a twisty river
  • Which of the following was once a synonym for fun?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Syn City

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games