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integrity

in-TEG-ruh-tee /ɪnˈtɛɡrəti/

nounC1GRETOEFLIELTS

formaltechnical

The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. In cybersecurity, ensuring data is accurate, complete, and unaltered.

In cybersecurity, data integrity means that data has not been modified or tampered with by unauthorized individuals or processes. It ensures the trustworthiness and reliability of information.

The story behind the word. The word 'integrity' comes from the Latin word 'integritas,' meaning 'wholeness' or 'soundness,' which itself is derived from 'integer,' meaning 'whole' or 'complete.' Think of an integer in mathematics – a whole number, not a fraction. This root perfectly illustrates the concept of integrity: being whole, undivided, and uncorrupted. Whether it's a person's moral character or a piece of data, integrity means it's sound, complete, and hasn't been tampered with.

Word relationships

honesty: The quality of being truthful and sincere.
uprightness: Moral rectitude.
soundness: The quality of being based on valid reason or good judgment.
completeness: The state of being whole and not lacking any part.

corruption: Dishonest or fraudulent conduct; alteration of data.
dishonesty: Deceitfulness or lack of integrity.
fragmentation: The process or state of breaking or being broken into small or separate parts.

Commonly confused with

authenticity: Authenticity is about being genuine or original. Integrity is about being complete and unaltered since its creation or last authorized modification.

Word family

integral (adjective): Necessary to make a whole complete; fundamental.
integrate (verb): To combine (one thing) with another so that they become a whole.

Collocations

data integrity
maintain integrity
structural integrity
personal integrity
breach integrity

Example sentences

"The judge was known for his unwavering integrity and commitment to justice." A discussion about ethical leadership.
"Checksums and digital signatures are used to verify the integrity of downloaded files." A cybersecurity audit.
"The structural integrity of the bridge was compromised after years of neglect." Engineering principles.

Memory hook

Think of 'INTEGRITY' as being 'INTACT' and 'WHOLE,' like an 'INTEGER' (whole number). Intact Whole

When not to use

Do not use 'integrity' to refer to general quality or functionality. It specifically relates to wholeness, soundness, and trustworthiness (moral or data-related).

Fun facts

The concept of integrity is crucial not only in ethics and cybersecurity but also in engineering (structural integrity) and biology (cellular integrity).
Hashing algorithms are commonly used in cybersecurity to verify data integrity.

Explore more words

probity, conscientious, rectitude, dignity, virtue, trustworthy