dishonesty
gb/dɪsˈɑnɪsti/ us/dɪsˈɑnɪsti/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
property
1
lack of honesty and truthfulness
Dishonesty is when someone is not honest.
Usage pattern:
dishonesty (in [something])
Common mistake:
Don’t use it to mean simple rudeness; it means not telling the truth or not being fair.
Synonyms
deceit (Emphasizes deliberate misleading behavior.)
|
untruthfulness (Focuses on not telling the truth in speech.)
Antonyms
honesty (The quality of telling the truth and acting fairly.)
|
integrity (Stronger: honesty plus strong moral principles.)
Collocations
blatant dishonesty
|open dishonesty
|sheer dishonesty
|habitual dishonesty
|a level of dishonesty
|a culture of dishonesty
|dishonesty in relationships
|dishonesty in business
|dishonesty in politics
|dishonesty and corruption
Themes
character
|ethics
|relationships
|communication
Examples
- His dishonesty damaged the relationship beyond repair.
- The report highlights widespread dishonesty in the industry.
- I can deal with mistakes, but not with dishonesty.
Learner examples
- Dishonesty is not good in a friendship.
- I don’t trust him because of his dishonesty.
Noun
B2
action
2
a dishonest act or lie
A dishonesty is a lie or cheating action.
Usage pattern:
an act of dishonesty; a dishonesty about [something]
Common mistake:
In this meaning, it’s often used with an article or phrase like “an act of dishonesty.”
Synonyms
lie (A specific untrue statement; narrower than dishonesty.)
|
cheating (Dishonesty used to gain an unfair advantage.)
Antonyms
truth (A true statement or fact, not a deceptive act.)
|
fair play (Acting by the rules rather than cheating.)
Collocations
an act of dishonesty
|a small dishonesty
|a minor dishonesty
|a serious dishonesty
|a single dishonesty
|a pattern of dishonesty
|to admit dishonesty
|to punish dishonesty
|to overlook dishonesty
|to confront dishonesty
Themes
daily_life
|ethics
|law_and_crime
|communication
Examples
- She was fired for repeated acts of dishonesty.
- Even one dishonesty can break trust.
- The judge described the behavior as calculated dishonesty.
Learner examples
- He apologized for his dishonesty.
- Cheating is a kind of dishonesty.
Noun
formal
C1
process
3
dishonest dealing for gain
Dishonesty can mean cheating or fraud in business or politics.
Usage pattern:
dishonesty in [an organization/sector]; allegations of dishonesty
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse with “disloyalty”; this meaning is about deception or fraud, often involving money or rules.
Synonyms
fraud (More specific: dishonest activity that is often criminal.)
|
corruption (Often involves abuse of power (especially in government) for private gain.)
Antonyms
transparency (Being open and clear, especially in organizations.)
|
probity (Formal: strict honesty and moral integrity in public life.)
Collocations
corporate dishonesty
|financial dishonesty
|political dishonesty
|institutional dishonesty
|allegations of dishonesty
|evidence of dishonesty
|widespread dishonesty
|systemic dishonesty
|dishonesty and fraud
|dishonesty and corruption
Themes
business
|politics
|law_and_crime
|finance
Examples
- The investigation uncovered dishonesty in the company’s accounting practices.
- Voters are tired of dishonesty and corruption in government.
- The regulator imposed fines for dishonesty in financial reporting.
Learner examples
- The police investigated dishonesty in the business.
- Dishonesty in reporting can be illegal.
Noun
formal
C1
state
4
misrepresenting facts in argument
Dishonesty can mean using facts in a misleading way on purpose.
Usage pattern:
dishonesty about [facts/data]; dishonesty in [debate/reporting]
Common mistake:
This is not just “being wrong”; it suggests the person knows they are misleading others.
Synonyms
misrepresentation (Emphasizes presenting something falsely, sometimes in a specific detail.)
|
bad faith (Stresses insincere or deceptive intent, especially in argument or negotiation.)
Antonyms
good faith (Being sincere and trying to be fair and truthful.)
|
objectivity (Aiming to present facts without distortion or bias.)
Collocations
intellectual dishonesty
|journalistic dishonesty
|scientific dishonesty
|dishonesty in debate
|dishonesty in reporting
|dishonesty about the data
|deliberate dishonesty
|clear dishonesty
|a charge of dishonesty
|to call out dishonesty
Themes
education
|media
|communication
|ethics
Examples
- Critics accused the author of dishonesty in the way the evidence was presented.
- There was a level of dishonesty in the debate that made it hard to trust either side.
- Cherry-picking statistics can be a form of dishonesty.
Learner examples
- He showed dishonesty about the facts.
- Be honest with the data.
Grammar
Dictionary form
dishonesty
IPA
GB/dɪsˈɑnɪsti/
US/dɪsˈɑnɪsti/
Syllables & stress
dis - hon - esty (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (hon)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: dishonesty
- Plural: dishonesties, dishonesty
Word family
Expressions
a culture of dishonesty
1/ə kˈʌlt͡ʃɚ əv dɪsˈɑnɪsti/
fixed phrase
environment where lying is normal
A culture of dishonesty is a place where people often lie or cheat.
Examples
- Weak oversight can create a culture of dishonesty.
- Employees described a culture of dishonesty where problems were routinely hidden.
- The new CEO promised to end the culture of dishonesty.
academic dishonesty
1/ˌækədˈɛmɪk dɪsˈɑnɪsti/
fixed phrase
cheating or plagiarism in school
Academic dishonesty means cheating at school or copying someone’s work.
Examples
- The university has strict rules against academic dishonesty.
- He was suspended for academic dishonesty after submitting copied work.
- The teacher reported the case of academic dishonesty to the department.
financial dishonesty
1/fɪnˈænʃəl dɪsˈɑnɪsti/
fixed phrase
business
lying or cheating about money
Financial dishonesty means cheating or lying about money.
Examples
- Auditors found signs of financial dishonesty in the records.
- The board removed him after allegations of financial dishonesty.
- The company introduced new controls to prevent financial dishonesty.
intellectual dishonesty
1/ˌɪntəlˈɛkt͡ʃuəl dɪsˈɑnɪsti/
fixed phrase
formal
misleading use of ideas or facts
Intellectual dishonesty means using ideas or facts in a dishonest way.
Examples
- The reviewer accused the writer of intellectual dishonesty.
- Selective quoting can cross the line into intellectual dishonesty.
- Calling it intellectual dishonesty is a serious charge in academic debate.
professional dishonesty
1/pɹəfˈɛʃənəl dɪsˈɑnɪsti/
fixed phrase
formal
dishonest conduct at work
Professional dishonesty means being dishonest in your job.
Examples
- She was disciplined for professional dishonesty after falsifying reports.
- The complaint alleged professional dishonesty toward customers.
- Licensing boards can penalize professionals for dishonesty.