honor system

Definition of honor system

: a system (as at a college) whereby persons are trusted to abide by the regulations (as for a code of conduct) without supervision or surveillance

Examples of honor system in a Sentence

Customers are on the honor system to pay for any software they choose to purchase.

Recent Examples on the Web But their definitions of culpability vary, and most rely on the honor system — not actual record checks — to verify recruits. — Kenny Jacoby, USA Today, "Jay Hopson Blake Anderson Rod Reed Charlie Strong Seth Littrell Eric Dooley Rocky Long Craig Schurig Wes Kittley Nick Bobeck Shawn Lutz Terry Bowden Sean Kugler Roman Banks Buzz Peterson Jon Harris Mike Sanford Sr. Clarence McKinney Chuck Priore Terry Sims Matt Viator Mel Tucker Kirby Cannon Larry Kennan Hannah Weiss John Grass Doc Holliday Doug Martin Mitch Stewart Tim Beck Kelvin Sampson Tim Flo," 12 Dec. 2019 The ban was largely based on an honor system, though Washington state did offer a buyback program that quickly exhausted the $150,000 set aside to shell out $150 each device turned in. — Lisa Marie Pane, Anchorage Daily News, "In gun buyback talk, how do you round up so many weapons?," 23 Sep. 2019 The weight limit is on the honor system; there is no weigh-in. — Susan Dunne, courant.com, "You’ll find lots of high-flying adventure at Fun In, Middletown’s trampoline and virtual-reality park," 23 Oct. 2019 The ban was largely based on an honor system, though Washington state did offer a buyback program that quickly exhausted the $150,000 set aside to shell out $150 each device turned in. — Lisa Marie Pane, Twin Cities, "In gun buyback talk, how do you round up so many weapons?," 22 Sep. 2019 The ban was largely based on an honor system, though Washington state did offer a buyback program that quickly exhausted the $150,000 set aside to shell out $150 each device turned in. — Lisa Marie Pane, The Denver Post, "In gun buyback talk, how do you round up so many weapons?," 22 Sep. 2019 Antique stores and ice cream shops populate the one-stoplight town’s Front Street, while Carol Cunningham’s baked-goods stand runs on the honor system from her front yard. — Lucinda Hahn, New York Times, "Sahara-Level Sand Dunes, Mediterranean-Blue Water: Welcome to Michigan," 4 Sep. 2019 Anesthetist Richard Harris and his dive buddy Craig Challen, a retired veterinarian, were awarded the Star of Courage, the second-highest civilian bravery decoration in the Australian honors system after the Cross of Valor. — Rod Mcguirk, The Seattle Times, "9 Australians awarded bravery medals for Thai cave rescue," 24 July 2018 The Boston Globe reports that customers could pay on the honor system at her farm stand. — USA TODAY, "Charlottesville remembered, drive-thru ban, ketchup karma: News from around our 50 states," 13 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'honor system.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

22 Dec 2019

Cite this Entry

“Honor system.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honor%20system. Accessed 17 January 2020.

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