English Reference
adverb · adjective

forthright

adv. · adj.
US /ˈfɔɹˈθɹaɪt/ UK /fˈɔːθɹaɪt/ forth·right UK spelling forthrights

  1. 01 C1 Advanced Formal

    adv.in a direct and honest way.

    adv.in a candid or unhesitating manner; frankly.

    Simple

    She spoke forthright about the mistakes she had made in the past.

    In context

    The witness answered every question forthright, leaving the jury with little doubt about the sequence of events.

    evasively
  2. 02 C2 Proficiency Archaic

    adj.moving or going straight forward in one direction.

    adj.proceeding in a straight course or direction.

    Simple

    The old map showed a forthright path through the dense forest.

    In context

    The architect designed a forthright gallery space that led visitors directly from the entrance to the main hall.

Startlingly funny, sad and hopeful, with a splendidly forthright heroine, this coming-of-age YA romance looks tenderly at sorrow and self-discovery.

The Guardian· 24 Apr 2026

Etymology 1

From Middle English forþright, forþriʒt, forþriht, from Old English forþriht (“direct, plain”). By surface analysis, forth + right.

Etymology 2

From Middle English forthright, forþriʒt, forthricte, from Old English forþrihte (“straightway, at once, plainly”), from forþriht + -e (“adverbial suffix”). By surface analysis, forth + right.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Old English forþriht
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated