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
Adjective
Individuals are seen as less honest, less competent, less intelligent. New York Times, 26 Mar. 2024 Does the exposing of the genre’s mechanics and artifice make Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show one of the genre’s most transparent and therefore honest entries? Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Mar. 2024 While Ben is honest and skilled with a gun, Sam is a sly con man who depends on his clever thinking and schemes. Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 25 Mar. 2024 Real news can be honest, hopeful, credible, constructive. Lenny Rashid Ruvaga, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Mar. 2024 Besides Jackson-Davis developing a reliable outside shot to keep defenses honest, the Warriors don’t have any internal candidates likely to mature into a stretch five. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2024 Islam, 66, was also convicted of six counts of honest services wire fraud, five counts of wire fraud, and six counts of filing false tax returns. Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2024 But to be honest, Snowmass Village stands firmly in its own identity. Amiee White Beazley, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2024 Fortunately, this documentary blends interviews, games, and other archival footage into a heartfelt, honest portrait of the man behind the myth. Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 20 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'honest.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 29 Mar. 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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