# honest

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈɒn.ɪst/ · frequency rank #1,901

## Definitions
1. Scrupulous with regard to telling the truth; not given to swindling, lying, or fraud; upright.
2. True, especially as far as is known by the person making the statement; fair; unbiased.
3. In good faith; without malice.
4. Accurate.
5. Authentic; full.
6. Earned or acquired in a fair manner.
7. Open; frank.
8. Decent; honourable; suitable; becoming.
9. Chaste; faithful; virtuous.

## Etymology
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”).

## Easily confused with
- **host** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/honest-vs-host)
- **hopes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/honest-vs-hopes)
- **honey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/honest-vs-honey)
- **hoses** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/honest-vs-hoses)
- **horst** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/honest-vs-horst)
- **Hynes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/honest-vs-hynes)
- **hornet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/honest-vs-hornet)
- **honesty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/honest-vs-honesty)
- **hottest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/honest-vs-hottest)
- **hotness** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/honest-vs-hotness)
- **honestly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/honest-vs-honestly)
- **hone** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hone-vs-honest)
- **homes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/homes-vs-honest)
- **holes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/holes-vs-honest)
- **hoist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoist-vs-honest)
- **Hines** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hines-vs-honest)
- **honed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/honed-vs-honest)
- **holiest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/holiest-vs-honest)

## Common misspellings (9)
`hhonest`, `hnoest`, `hoenst`, `honesst`, `honestt`, `honets`, `honnest`, `honset`, `ohnest`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/honest