WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
dis•hon•est /dɪsˈɑnɪst/USA pronunciation
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- not honest;
untrustworthy:I wouldn't do business with such dishonest car dealers. - showing lack of honesty:That commercial had a lot of dishonest claims.
dis•hon•est
(dis on′ist),USA pronunciation adj.
dis•hon′est•ly, adv.
- not honest;
disposed to lie, cheat, or steal;
not worthy of trust or belief:a dishonest person. - proceeding from or exhibiting lack of honesty;
fraudulent:a dishonest advertisement.
- Anglo-French, Old French deshoneste, equivalent. to des- dis-1 + honeste honest
- Middle English dishoneste 1350–1400
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged unscrupulous, knavish, deceitful, perfidious. See corrupt.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged false.
- 1, 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged honest.
'dishonestly' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
boodle
- carve up
- cheat
- cook
- cross
- easy money
- false
- fix
- fixed
- gravy
- gyp joint
- ill-gotten
- lorry
- maladminister
- misappropriate
- mismanage
- pad
- padding
- peculate
- pecuniary advantage
- pelf
- pocket
- purloin
- put up
- short-change
- shortchange
- trump