Probity
Word of the Day
What is Probity?
noun
The quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency.
Pronunciation
Why This Word?
Chosen to spotlight ethical leadership amid public skepticism.
Examples of Use
Here's how this word appears in everyday language:
The committee prized probity over partisanship.
Probity in procurement prevents waste and fraud.
His probity was evident in small, consistent choices.
Word Origins
Latin probitas “honesty, uprightness,” from probus “good, virtuous”
Used in legal and public-service contexts to denote incorruptibility.
First appearance in English: 16th century
Word Family
Related forms of this word:
-
Noun:
Her integrity never wavered.
-
Adjective:
An upright judge recused himself.
-
Adjective:
Scrupulous reviews caught the error.
Around the World
How this word appears in other languages:
- Spanish: probidad
- French: probité
- German: Redlichkeit / Rechtschaffenheit
- Italian: probità
- Portuguese: probidade
If you Already Know This Word
If you've mastered this word, try these more advanced alternatives:
Integrity
Broad moral wholeness; probity is public-facing rectitude.
Honesty
Truth-telling; probity implies systemic trustworthiness.
Rectitude
Moral correctness; probity stresses incorruptibility.
Fun Facts
- “Probus” also yields “probation,” originally testing worthiness.
- Many countries have “probity audits” for public projects.
Cultural Usage
- Courts consider witness probity when weighing testimony.
- Codes of conduct require probity in office.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes confused with “probability”; probity is about moral uprightness.
Micro Story
Her record of probity made her the obvious choice to oversee the audit.