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honest

adj.
US //ˈɑnəst// UK //ˈɒnɪst// hon·est
  1. 1 truthful (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    telling the truth and not hiding things from other people.

    scrupulous with regard to telling the truth; not given to lying, deception, or fraud.

    Example

    To be honest, I didn't really enjoy the movie last night.

    Example

    The manager appreciated her honest assessment of the project's failings, even though the news was difficult to hear.
  2. 2 fair and legal (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    earned or done in a fair way that follows the rules.

    acquired or conducted in a fair, legal, and ethical manner.

    Example

    He made an honest living working as a carpenter for twenty years.

    Example

    The auditor confirmed that the company had made an honest effort to comply with the new financial regulations.
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  1. 3 simple and direct (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    simple, real, and not trying to impress anyone.

    unpretentious and genuine; characterized by a lack of sophistication or artifice.

    Example

    The restaurant serves good, honest food at a reasonable price.

    Example

    There was an honest quality to his craftsmanship that made the simple wooden chair more appealing than the mass-produced alternatives.
Origin

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”).

Word family
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