sincerity

From Middle English sinceritie, from Old French sincerité and Medieval Latin sincēritas; both from Latin sincēritas, from sincērus + -tās. Equivalent to sincere +‎ -ity.

• IPA^(key): /sɪnˈsɛɹəti/
• Rhymes: -ɛɹəti
• Hyphenation: sin‧cer‧i‧ty

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sincerity (countable and uncountable, plural sincerities)

1. The quality or state of being sincere
   • c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]:

     I protest, in the sincerity of love.

   • c. 1779-1790, Vicesimus Knox, Essays Moral and Literary:

     If the shew of any thing be good for any thing, I am sure sincerity is better

• honesty
• sincereness

• insincerity

• sincere