Sincere Meaning
/sɪnˈsɪə(ɹ)/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjGenuine; meaning what one says or does; heartfelt.
adjMeant truly or earnestly.
Sentence Examples
We lay emphasis on the importance of being sincere.
Bill and I have been sincere friends for a long time.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Her ____ apology deeply convinced everyone that she truly regretted her mistake.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Please accept my ____ apologies for the mistake I made during the meeting.
Word Origin & History
From Middle French sincere, from Latin sincerus (“genuine”), from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“together”) (whence English sam) + *ḱer- (“grow”) (whence Latin Ceres, the goddess of harvest, etymon of cereal). Not from sine (“without”) + cera (“wax”), a folk etymology; see Wikipedia page.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Tumid blustering, with more or less of sincerity, which need not be entirely sincere, yet the sincerer the better, is like to go far."
— 1837, Thomas Carlyle, chapter III, in The French Revolution: A History […], volume II (The Constitution), London: Chapman and Hall, →OCLC, book I (The Feast of Pikes), page 19:
"My sincerest apologies to Brother Ron Smith in the December ish."
— 1967 June, Drake Maynard, If, volume 17, number 6, page 160:
"If you choose to pull the trigger, should your drama prove sincere
Do it somewhere far away from here"
— 2003, “The Outsider”, performed by A Perfect Circle:
"The message that through sincere teshuvah and resolution, light and gladness can be achieved by all, is most fitting for the opening of the Yom Kippur service."
— 1996, Macy Nulman, The Encyclopedia of Jewish Prayer, page 161:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Her ____ apology deeply convinced everyone that she truly regretted her mistake.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Please accept my ____ apologies for the mistake I made during the meeting.