noun
integrity
in-TEG-ruh-tee/ɪnˈteɡrəti/
The soundness of something whole and uncompromised.
The shopkeeper preserves personal integrity by returning the customer's overpayment.
Etymology
Wholeness here becomes moral soundness: the Latin noun already joined completeness with purity and blamelessness. Integrity describes character that is sound and upright, especially in truthfulness and fair dealing.
In context
compromise in integrity can lead to unfair advantages and damage the credibility of results. By maintaining honesty and impartiality, an invigilator helps create a level playing field for all candidates.
More examples
- A broken seal compromises the integrity of the package.
- The software checks the integrity of each file before installation.
- Removing that scene would weaken the integrity of the story.
Similar words
- soundness
- Emphasizes freedom from defects rather than being entirely whole.
- wholeness
- Emphasizes having all parts rather than resisting damage or corruption.