Integrity
/ɪnˈtɛɡrɪti/
nounB2
Definition
Integrity is about being truthful, fair, and doing the right thing even when no one is watching. It also refers to something being complete and not broken or changed in a bad way. People often use it to describe a person's character or the quality of an object or system.
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See It in Action
Moral honesty and strong principles
- •She is known for her integrity and always tells the truth.
- •A leader with integrity earns the respect of the people.
- •Integrity means doing the right thing even when it is hard.
Being whole, complete, and undamaged
- •The building's structural integrity was checked after the earthquake.
- •Data integrity is important to keep information accurate and safe.
- •The integrity of the old painting was preserved by careful restoration.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "integrity" like "honest" (A1 word), but stronger because it means always being honest and good, not just sometimes
- ✓Picture a perfect, unbroken glass—no cracks or missing pieces, solid and whole
- ✓It's the feeling of trust you have when you know someone will keep their promises and do the right thing
- ✓Sounds like "in-TEGR-ity" → imagine a strong "team" (TEGR sounds like "tiger") that holds everything together without breaking
- ✓Imagine a superhero who never lies or cheats, always stands for what is right—this is a person with integrity
- ✓NOT like "honest" (can be about truth sometimes), "integrity" means a full, strong character that includes honesty, fairness, and moral strength
- ✓NOT like "complete" (only physical whole), "integrity" also means moral wholeness and honesty
Try Other Words
- •Honesty: truthfulness and not lying (Use when focusing only on truth-telling)
- •Uprightness: strong moral behavior (Use when emphasizing good behavior and fairness)
- •Wholeness: being complete and not broken (Use when talking about physical or structural integrity)
- •Soundness: being in good condition or correct (Use when describing systems, ideas, or objects that are strong and reliable)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: in- (not) + teg- (from Latin "tegere" meaning "to cover, protect") + -ity (noun suffix)
- •Etymology: From Latin "integritas," meaning completeness or wholeness
- •Historical development: Originally meant completeness or untouched condition; later, it also came to mean moral soundness or honesty
- •Modern usage: Used to describe both a person's moral character and the condition of objects or systems being whole and undamaged
Reflect & Connect
•How do you think integrity affects relationships between people in your life?
•Can something have physical integrity but lack moral integrity? What examples can you think of?
Fill in the blanks
1.A person shows integrity when they always ___ their promises, even if it is difficult.
2.The integrity of a bridge is important because it must ___ the weight of cars and people safely.
3.Unlike simple honesty, integrity means doing the right thing ___ someone is watching.
4.When data loses integrity, it can become ___ or incorrect.
5.A leader with integrity earns ___ and trust from their team.
6.The old house kept its structural integrity despite years of ___ and weather.
7.To maintain integrity, you should not ___ or cheat in any situation.