Dishonesty: meaning, definitions and examples

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dishonesty

 

[ dɪsˈɒnɪsti ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in personal relationships

Dishonesty is the quality of being untruthful or deceitful, often in order to gain an advantage or avoid punishment. It is the act of lying, cheating, or deceiving others.

Synonyms

deceit, untruthfulness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
dishonesty

Refers to behavior or actions that involve lying, cheating, or stealing. It is a general term that can be used in various contexts, such as personal, professional, or legal situations.

  • Her dishonesty about the project details led to significant delays.
  • The company's dishonesty was eventually exposed by an investigative journalist.
deceit

Implies a deliberate attempt to mislead or trick someone. This term is often used in situations where someone is purposely hiding the truth or providing false information to achieve a specific outcome.

  • His deceit almost ruined the entire plan.
  • She used deceit to gain access to confidential information.
untruthfulness

Focuses on the characteristic of not being truthful. This word is often used to describe a person's habitual tendency to lie or distort the truth.

  • His untruthfulness has caused him to lose many friends over the years.
  • The judge questioned the witness's untruthfulness during the trial.

Examples of usage

  • She couldn't trust him anymore because of his dishonesty.
  • The dishonesty in their relationship eventually led to a breakup.
Context #2 | Noun

in business

In the business world, dishonesty refers to the act of being fraudulent or deceptive for personal or financial gain. It can involve misleading customers, embezzling funds, or falsifying documents.

Synonyms

deception, fraudulence.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
dishonesty

Dishonesty is used to describe a general lack of truthfulness or integrity. It can be applied to various situations where someone is not being honest, whether in small matters or significant ones.

  • Her dishonesty about the missing money caused a lot of trouble at work.
  • Teachers should teach students about the importance of avoiding dishonesty.
fraudulence

Fraudulence typically pertains to criminal acts involving deceit for personal or financial gain. It is often used in legal or financial contexts and has a very negative connotation.

  • He was arrested for fraudulence after embezzling funds from the company.
  • The investigation revealed the extent of the financial fraudulence within the organization.
deception

Deception refers to the act of deceiving someone, often through trickery or misleading information. It implies intent to mislead or create a false belief.

  • The magician's act was full of clever deceptions that amazed the audience.
  • He felt betrayed by her deception after finding out she had lied about her past.

Examples of usage

  • The company suffered a major loss due to the dishonesty of its executives.
  • The dishonesty of the sales team led to a decrease in customer trust.

Translations

Translations of the word "dishonesty" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desonestidade

🇮🇳 बेईमानी

🇩🇪 Unehrlichkeit

🇮🇩 ketidakjujuran

🇺🇦 нечесність

🇵🇱 nieuczciwość

🇯🇵 不正直 (fuseijitsu)

🇫🇷 malhonnêteté

🇪🇸 deshonestidad

🇹🇷 dürüst olmama

🇰🇷 부정직 (bujeongjik)

🇸🇦 عدم الأمانة

🇨🇿 nepoctivost

🇸🇰 nepoctivosť

🇨🇳 不诚实 (bùchéngshí)

🇸🇮 nepoštenost

🇮🇸 óheiðarleiki

🇰🇿 адал емес

🇬🇪 არაკეთილმოსურნეობა

🇦🇿 vicdansızlıq

🇲🇽 deshonestidad

Etymology

The word 'dishonesty' originated from the combination of 'dis-' meaning 'not' and 'honesty', which comes from the Old French word 'honeste' meaning 'honorable' or 'respectable'. The concept of dishonesty has been present throughout human history, with various moral and ethical codes condemning deceitful behavior.

See also: dishonest, dishonestly, honestly, honesty.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #15,201, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.