sincerity
UK: sɪnˈsɛrɪti | US: sɪnˈsɛrəti
n. the quality of being free from pretense, deceit, or hypocrisy; genuineness.
n. (archaic) purity or wholesomeness of substance.
sincerity = sincere<genuine> + ity<noun suffix>
- sincere: Derived from Latin sincerus ("clean, pure, genuine"), possibly from sin- (without) + cerus (wax), though this etymology is debated. Historically, it may have referred to unadulterated substances (e.g., honey without wax).
- ity: A noun-forming suffix from Latin -itas, indicating a state or quality.
Etymology Origin:
The word sincerity traces back to the Latin sincerus, which originally described physical purity (e.g., untainted materials). Over time, it evolved metaphorically to denote moral purity and honesty. The folk etymology linking it to "without wax" (sin- + cera)—allegedly referring to unsculpted marble or unadulterated honey—though popular, lacks definitive evidence. By the 16th century, sincerity in English solidified its modern meaning of heartfelt genuineness.
Her sincerity moved everyone during the speech.
I doubted the sincerity of his apology.
The artist’s work reflects deep sincerity and emotion.
Sincerity is a rare virtue in politics.
He spoke with such sincerity that no one questioned his intentions.