probity

noun

pro·​bi·​ty ˈprō-bə-tē 

: adherence to the highest principles and ideals : uprightness

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Probity and its synonyms honesty, honor, and integrity all mean uprightness of character or action, with some slight differences in emphasis. Honesty implies a refusal to lie or deceive in any way. Honor suggests an active or anxious regard for the standards of one's profession, calling, or position. Integrity implies trustworthiness and incorruptibility to a degree that one is incapable of being false to a trust, responsibility, or pledge. Probity, which descends from Latin probus, meaning "honest," implies tried and proven honesty or integrity.

Synonyms

• character
• decency
• goodness
• honesty
• integrity
• morality
• rectitude
• righteousness
• rightness
• uprightness
• virtue
• virtuousness

Choose the Right Synonym for probity

honesty, honor, integrity, probity mean uprightness of character or action.

honesty implies a refusal to lie, steal, or deceive in any way.

honor suggests an active or anxious regard for the standards of one's profession, calling, or position.

integrity implies trustworthiness and incorruptibility to a degree that one is incapable of being false to a trust, responsibility, or pledge.

probity implies tried and proven honesty or integrity.

Examples of probity in a Sentence

a person of indisputable probity must head the disciplinary panel

the defense attorney questioned the probity of the witness

Recent Examples on the Web

The dilemma recalls Otto Preminger’s Whirlpool and Where the Sidewalk Ends, post-WWII films about personal probity but without the melodramatic hype that cheapened both. —Armond White, National Review, 22 Nov. 2024

Although this is the right move to convince the ECB that becoming lender of last resort will not open the door to moral hazard, since the pact is to bind all countries to fiscal probity, the austerity policies embedded in it are likely only to reinforce the growth crisis. —Vivien A. Schmidt, Foreign Affairs, 28 Nov. 2011

But the arrival in the emerging world of financial globalization, with its demands of political and institutional stability, financial supervision, and monetary and fiscal probity, proved far more damaging. —Alan M. Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2011

There are questions of law and questions of decency, and even those who skirt the outer limits of the law attempt to keep up an appearance of probity. —Andrew Solomon, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English probite, from Latin probitat-, probitas, from probus honest — more at prove

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

probity

noun

pro·​bi·​ty ˈprō-bət-ē 

: honesty, uprightness