honesty is the best policy
phrase
—used to say that telling the truth is better than lying even when it is hard to do
He realized honesty is the best policy and told them what really happened to their car.
Cite this Entry
“Honesty is the best policy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honesty%20is%20the%20best%20policy. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
