Integrity is a powerful word. Are you aware of how to use it? This article supplies everything you need to know about integrity.
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Kevin
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January 31, 2022
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Common Questions
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What Is the Definition of Integrity?
The word integrity is a noun that refers to the quality of being honest or steadfast in moral principles. It can also refer to the quality of being united, unimpaired, or sound. The word integrity is four syllables — in-teg-ri-ty — and the pronunciation of the word integrity is ɪntegrɪti.
The word integrity is often used to talk about someone’s moral principles. If someone has integrity, they are morally sound and upright. Integrity can also be used to talk about structures like walls, bridges, and buildings. If these things have integrity, this means that they are structurally sound and not in danger of collapse.
What Are Translations of the Word Integrity?
Different languages worldwide contain their own words for integrity. Since integrity has a Latin root, and many languages also have Latin roots, one can assume that many of these translations of integrity will have the same root. This is why many of the translations of integrity listed below look and sound quite a bit like integrity.
- Cebuano: integridad
- Catalan: integritat
- Finnish: rehellisyys, suoraselkäisyys
- Mandarin: 正直 (zhèngzhí)
- Russian: че́стность
- Czech: integrita , zásadovost
- Irish: ionracas
- Portuguese: integridade
- Italian: integrità
- Swedish: integritet (common)
- Spanish: integridad
- German: Integrität
- Roman: integrìtēt , čèstitōst
- Romanian: integritate
- Tagalog: integridad
- Swahili: uadilifu
- Cyrillic: интегрѝте̄т , чѐстито̄ст
- Latin: honestās , integritas
What Is the Etymology of the Word Integrity?
The etymology of words is often a key to understanding them. If we know where a word comes from, we can better understand its definition, as well as understand different words that have the same root. The word integrity comes from the Old French integrité as well as the Latin integritās, integritatem, and integer. These come from Indo-European roots.
How Can the Word Integrity Be Used in a Sentence?
Knowing the definition of a word but not how to use it is not as practical as knowing how to use a word in a sentence. In order to fully understand the definition and usage of a word, it is often helpful to see it in a sentence, as well as use it in a sentence yourself. Below you will find a few different examples of the word integrity being used in sentences. Study the context in which integrity is referenced. Then, try to use this word in a sentence for yourself!
The woman prided herself on her personal integrity — her adherence to a strict set of ethical principles and moral uprightness was how she defined herself.
The man was a person of integrity and honor. His soundness of moral character and human decency made any employee lucky to have him as a boss in the workplace.
She lived a life of integrity despite the hypocrisy that seemed to surround her at every turn. She tried to give others perspective on the world via sincerity and open communication.
When met with a dilemma in choosing between a large sum of money and his moral values, he asked, “Is integrity important?” He had to make a decision as to whether he could let his core values and standards of integrity waver.
The stakeholders tried to uphold morality, ethical behavior, and integrity in their perspective and decision-making, but one person committed deception and they had to kick him out.
His personal moral soundness did not match his professional integrity — while he would have the virtue to save a cat from a tree in his personal life when it came to his work standard of integrity, he would lie, steal, and cheat to have the most popular advertisement at the firm. This lack of professionalism and consistency of character led to his demise.
What Are Synonyms of the Word Integrity?
Integrity is not always the perfect word for every situation. There also might be circumstances in which you feel you have overused the word integrity, and are looking for a new word to use that is similar to integrity. For this, we can use a synonym. Take a look at this list of synonyms of the word integrity.
- principle
- probity
- principles
- respectability
- chastity
- ethics
- entirety
- honesty
- perfection
- equity
- fairness
- coherence
- virtuousness
- trustworthiness
- righteousness
- totality
- purity
- truth
- oneness
- wholeness
- good
- propriety
- intactness
- justness
- dignity
- cohesion
- completeness
- honor
- scrupulousness
- unity
- incorruptibility
- morals
- soundness
- character
- credibility
- virtue
- morality
- uprightness
- innocence
- right
- justice
- high-mindedness
- truthfulness
- decency
- nobility
- rightness
- sincerity
- goodness
- integrality
- continuity
- rectitude
What Are Antonyms of the Word Integrity?
For a word with the opposite meaning of integrity, we should be looking for words called antonyms. Instead of saying that someone lacks integrity, or that they could use some integrity, it is often more powerful to use an antonym for a given word in a sentence Power Thesaurus lists numerous different antonyms for integrity that can be used in a variety of different sentences.
- unfairness
- villainy
- craftiness
- hypocrisy
- deceitfulness
- trickery
- iniquity
- deception
- vice
- immorality
- wrongdoing
- perfidy
- unrighteousness
- atrocity
- insincerity
- deceit
- disgrace
- falseness
- badness
- corruptibility
- artifice
- guile
- impropriety
- act
- evil
- corruptness
- degeneracy
- furtiveness
- shenanigans
- sin
- vileness
- indirection
- bluff
- crime
- bullshit
- depravity
- dishonesty
- dishonor
- mendaciousness
- wickedness
- falsity
- crookedness
- wrong
- dirty player
- isolation
- transgression
- delinquency
- duplicity
- sinfulness
- injustice
- corruption
Overall, the word integrity means the quality of having soundness of moral character. It can also mean that something is unified as a whole or has structural soundness. The word integrity exists in many different languages and is Old French and Latin in origin.
Sources:
- integrity: meaning, origin, translation | WordSense Dictionary
- integrity | Etymology, origin, and meaning of integrity | etymonline
- Integrity definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
- Integrity synonyms – 1 376 Words and Phrases for Integrity | Power Thesaurus
- Integrity antonyms – 1 585 Opposites of Integrity | Power Thesaurus
