What does "dishonest" mean?

1. (deceitful or untruthful) not honest; likely to lie, cheat, or steal to get what you want. 2. (intended to deceive) describes something, like a statement or a plan, that is meant to trick people.

dishonest

adj.

US //dɪˈsɑnəst// UK //dɪsˈɒnɪst// dis·hon·est

1 deceitful or untruthful (adj.)
B1 Intermediate

not honest; likely to lie, cheat, or steal to get what you want.

behaving in a deceitful or untrustworthy manner; lacking integrity in speech or action.

Example

It was dishonest of him to take credit for work he didn't do.

Example

The investigation revealed that the company had been using dishonest accounting practices to hide its mounting debts from investors.
- deceitful
- untruthful
- corrupt
2 intended to deceive (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

describes something, like a statement or a plan, that is meant to trick people.

intended to mislead or deceive; fraudulent in nature or purpose.

Example

The advertisement was dishonest because it didn't mention the extra costs.

Example

The politician's dishonest response to the scandal only served to further erode the public's trust in the administration.
- fraudulent
- misleading
- false
- genuine
- accurate

Origin

From Middle English dishoneste (“dishonourable”), from Old French deshoneste, from Latin dehonestus. Equivalent to dis- + honest. Displaced native Old English unsōþfæst.