Make Your Point: PROBITY

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pronounce PROBITY:

PROBE uh tee

connect this word to others:

The word probity belongs to a family of English words that involve testing, credibility, and goodness.

That family includes words like prove, proof, probe, probably, probation, approve, and __prove (literally "to prove unworthy" and today meaning "to scold").

To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.

definition:

"Probity" traces back through Old French to a Latin word for "honesty," probitas, which goes further back to the Latin for "good or worthy," probus.

Since the 1400s in English, "probity" has meant "honesty, integrity, a good moral character."

In other words, your probity is your strong sense of honesty and morality: your reputation for always doing what's right.

grammatical bits:

Part of speech:

Noun, the uncountable kind: "He's known for his probity;" "He's a man of probity."

Other forms:

None are common.

how to use it:

Pick the very formal, semi-common word "probity" when you want to strike a serious tone as you describe someone's moral integrity.

You could talk about someone's probity, or someone's reputation for probity. Or, you could talk about people acknowledging, accepting, questioning, or casting doubt on someone else's probity.

And you could specify that you're talking about someone's political probity (the kind where they tell the truth to the public), or their financial probity (the kind where they make their money by honest means), or their civic probity (the kind where they participate in public life in an honorable way).

examples:

"Governor Wilson dealt with the issues of political probity today by calling for tighter election campaign controls and by disclosing several details of his income."
— Francis X. Clines, New York Times, 20 December 1973

"[Loretta Lynch] is the daughter of a minister and a librarian, and it appears, from her many confirmation hearings, that she has a reputation for probity."
— Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker, 20 March 2015

has this page helped you understand "probity"?

Awesome, I'm glad it helped!

study it:

Explain the meaning of "probity" without saying "uprightness" or "rectitude."

try it out:

In your opinion, who's a person—living or dead, real or fictional—who embodies probity? What does this person do, and not do, that illustrates their probity?

I'll argue for Dolly Parton. I think she illustrated her probity by speaking to everyone with kindness, using her success to uplift people in poverty, and responding to rude questions with grace and humor instead of anger or insults.

before you review, play:

Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.

Our game this month is "Alliterate a Little; It'll Lift It."

I'll give you a phrase that doesn't alliterate, and you'll make it alliterate by changing one or both words—while preserving, as best you can, the meaning of the original.

For example: A car that demands too much fuel is a "gas guzzler." But what alliterative term could you invent for a dishwasher that demands too much detergent?

You could call it a "soap slurper," or a "detergent devourer."

Try this one today...

Probity can't always save you from having "bad blood" with someone. But it could help you establish "good vibes." What alliterative term could you invent for those?

To see one possible answer, scroll all the way down.

review this word:

1. The opposite of PROBITY could be

A. LATITUDE: freedom from strict rules.
B. RECTITUDE: morality or strong virtues.
C. TURPITUDE: behavior that's evil, wicked, or terrible.

2. I cringe when Danforth in The Crucible, you know, the guy who _____, says "What more may you ask of me? Unless you doubt my probity?"

A. sings, cooks, woos, and that's it
B. strives relentlessly to earn the community's faith and respect
C. ignores logic, ignores evidence, and sends innocent people to their deaths

a final word:

I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.

I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.

From my blog:
On vocabulary...
  36 ways to study words.
  Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
  How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
On writing...
How to improve any sentence.
How to motivate our kids to write.
How to stop procrastinating and start writing.
How to bulk up your writing when you have to meet a word count.

From my heart: a profound thanks to the generous patrons, donors, and sponsors that make it possible for me to write these emails. If you'd like to be a patron or a donor, please click here. If you'd like to be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.

A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.

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