trustworthy
UK: ˈtrʌstˌwɜːði | US: ˈtrʌstˌwɜːrði
adj. deserving of trust or confidence; reliable
trustworthy = trust<confidence> + worthy<deserving>
- trust: From Old English trēowian ("to trust"), related to trēow ("faith, loyalty"). Evolved to mean reliance on integrity or ability.
- worthy: From Old English weorþig ("deserving, valuable"), derived from weorþ ("worth"). Retains the sense of merit or suitability.
Etymology Origin:
The compound trustworthy emerged in Middle English by combining trust (faith) and worthy (deserving), reflecting a straightforward fusion of concepts—"deserving of faith." Its logic mirrors Germanic compounding traditions, where adjectives are formed by pairing nouns with evaluative suffixes. The word’s transparency aids memorability: trust + worthy = "fit to be trusted."
She is a trustworthy employee who handles sensitive data responsibly.
The study cites only trustworthy sources to ensure accuracy.
A trustworthy friend will keep your secrets safe.
The app’s privacy policy aims to prove it’s trustworthy.
His consistent honesty makes him highly trustworthy.