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integrity

in-TEG-rih-tee /ɪnˈteɡrəti/

nounC1SATGREIELTS

formalmoralprofessional

The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; the state of being whole and undivided.

In business, it refers to a person whose actions consistently match their stated values, even when no one is watching.

The story behind the word. From the Latin 'integer', meaning whole or untouched. A person of integrity is 'undivided'—they are the same person in public as they are in private.

Word relationships

probity: Probity is a very formal term for strong honesty and virtue.
rectitude: Rectitude implies a strict adherence to rules and correctness.

corruption: Corruption is the decay of integrity, usually for personal gain.
duplicity: Duplicity is being 'two-faced' or deceitful, the opposite of being 'whole' or undivided.

Commonly confused with

honesty: Honesty is telling the truth; integrity is living the truth.

Word family

integer (noun): A whole number (mathematical root).

Collocations

uncompromising integrity
personal integrity
professional integrity

Idioms & expressions

walk the talk

Example sentences

"In looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if they don’t have the first, the other two will kill you." Hiring

Memory hook

Integrity is being an 'Integer'—a whole number, not a fraction of a person. Be a whole person.

When not to use

While it can mean 'structural soundness' (e.g., 'the integrity of the bridge'), in this context, it is strictly moral.

Fun facts

The word 'integer' in math and 'integrity' in ethics share the same root because both imply something that hasn't been broken or divided.