Honest Meaning
/ˈɒn.ɪst/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjScrupulous with regard to telling the truth; not given to swindling, lying, or fraud; upright.
adjTrue, especially as far as is known by the person making the statement; fair; unbiased.
Sentence Examples
You seem an honest man.
You seem to be an honest man.
If you are honest, I will hire you.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ witness told the court exactly what she saw that night.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It is always better to be ____ and tell the truth, even when it is difficult to do so.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English honest, honeste (“honourable, appropriate, excellent”), from Old French honeste, from Latin honestus, from honor. For the verb, see Latin honestāre (“to clothe or adorn with honour”), and compare French honester. Displaced native Old English sōþfæst (literally “truth-firm”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"A true and honest physician is excused for leaving his patient, when he finds the disease grown desperate"
— c. 1680, William Temple, Of Popular Discontents:
"Behold what honest clothes you send forth to bleaching!"
— c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
"[…] Vpon the verge of the Riuer there are fiue houſes, wherein liue the honeſter ſort of people, as Farmers in England, and they keepe continuall centinell for the townes ſecuritie."
— 1624, William Simons, “The Gouernment Returned againe to Sir Thomas Gates, 1611”, in Iohn [i.e., John] Smith, The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles: […], London: […] I[ohn] D[awson] and I[ohn] H[aviland] for Michael Sparkes, →OCLC, 4th booke, page 111:
"[T]here are Wolf-Whelps in Palaces, and Governments, as well as in Cottages, and Forreſts. […] They go out however, as there is Occaſion, and Hunt and Growle for Company; but at the ſame time, they give the Sign out of their Maſters hand, hold Intelligence with the Enemy; and Make uſe of their Power and Credit to Worry Honeſter Men them Themſelves."
— 1692, Roger L’Estrange, “[The Fables of Æsop, &c.] Fab[le] CLV. A Shepherd and a Wolves Whelp [Reflexion].”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC, page 140:
"Wives may be merry, and yet honest too."
— c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ witness told the court exactly what she saw that night.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It is always better to be ____ and tell the truth, even when it is difficult to do so.