integrities

integrities — noun

1. The quality of being honest and following strong moral principles even when faci

1.nounC1
Definition

The quality of being honest and following strong moral principles even when facing pressure or temptation.

Example

Théo showed great integrity by returning the lost wallet with all the money inside.

Ayesha's integrity was praised after she refused a bribe from the construction company.

Common collocations
  • act with integrity
  • personal integrity
  • professional integrity
  • question someone's integrity
  • moral integrity
Synonyms
  • moral principles

    broader and more neutral; does not imply consistent adherence the way integrity does

  • ethical standards

    more commonly used in professional or institutional contexts

Antonyms
  • dishonesty

    the direct opposite — a lack of truthfulness or moral principles

Usage Note

The plural form integrities is very rare and appears almost exclusively in formal or academic writing when comparing multiple systems of moral values. In everyday use, integrity is uncountable even when referring to multiple people or groups.

2. The quality of being sound, undamaged, and fully functional (used of structures,

2.nounC1
Definition

The quality of being sound, undamaged, and fully functional (used of structures, objects, or systems).

Example

The engineer confirmed the bridge's structural integrity was intact after the earthquake.

collocation: structural integrity

Takeshi checked the integrity of the ancient documents that survived the flood.

Common collocations
  • structural integrity
  • data integrity
  • physical integrity
  • integrity of a system
  • maintain integrity
Synonyms
  • soundness

    more informal and typically used for physical objects rather than data or systems

  • sturdiness

    focuses on physical strength rather than correct functioning

Usage Note

Frequently used in technical fields such as engineering, computing, and conservation. Always treated as uncountable — use the singular form even when evaluating multiple items or systems.

Common Mistakes

The structural integrities of the bridges were checked.
The structural integrity of the bridges was checked.
Integrity is uncountable; use the singular even when referring to multiple structures.

3. The state in which something is complete and undivided, with all essential parts

3.nounC1
Definition

The state in which something is complete and undivided, with all essential parts present and nothing missing.

Example

The curator checked the integrity of the statue by making sure no pieces were missing.

Sade verified the integrity of the digital archives by confirming every file was present.

collocation: integrity of the archives

Common collocations
  • territorial integrity
  • archival integrity
  • integrity of a collection
  • preserve integrity
Synonyms
  • wholeness

    less formal and used more for physical objects than for data or territory

  • completeness

    more common in everyday use and sounds less technical than integrity

Usage Note

Often used in contexts involving physical objects, archives, or territorial boundaries. Always singular; the plural form is not attested in this sense.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Integrity refers to the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that a person consistently follows even under pressure. Honesty is narrower — it focuses only on truthfulness rather than the full range of moral behaviour. Moral principles is a broader, more general term for any set of personal values that guide decisions, but unlike integrity it does not imply the person actually lives by those values. Ethical standards often appears in professional contexts (e.g., medical ethics, legal ethics) and comes from institutional codes rather than personal character. Virtue emphasises admirable character traits (kindness, courage) rather than consistent adherence to a moral framework. For example: 'We admire her integrity because she refused the bribe even when no one was watching' conveys a stronger commitment than 'We admire her honesty' — integrity adds the idea of consistent moral behaviour under pressure.

honesty ↗moral principlesethical standardsvirtue ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • sense of
  • lack of
  • loss of
  • question of

Adverbs

Phrases

  • act with integrity
  • maintain integrity
  • question someone's integrity

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word integrity comes from Latin integritās, meaning 'wholeness' or 'soundness,' which comes from integer, meaning 'whole' or 'complete.' In English, integrity is used almost exclusively as an uncountable noun. The plural form integrities is very rare and appears only in formal academic writing when comparing multiple distinct systems of moral values.

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2