sincerity
MediumFormal to neutral; common in evaluative, personal, and ethical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The quality of being free from pretense, deceit, or hypocrisy; genuine honesty and earnestness in feeling, belief, or intention.
Beyond simple truthfulness, sincerity implies a congruence between one's inner feelings and outward expression, a wholeness of character where actions align with stated convictions.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often contrasts with 'hypocrisy' or 'cynicism'. Carries a positive moral evaluation. Can be questioned (e.g., 'I doubt his sincerity').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or frequency. Slight preference for 'earnestness' as a near-synonym in some older British formal contexts.
Connotations
In both varieties, strongly associated with positive character assessment. May carry a slightly old-fashioned or formal nuance in casual speech.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
doubt the sincerity of [NP]appreciate the sincerity of [NP]speak with sincerity about [NP]act with sincerityVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “ring true (implies sincerity)”
- “from the bottom of one's heart”
- “mean every word”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Evaluating partners or colleagues (e.g., 'We value the sincerity of their commitment to the deal').
Academic
In ethics, philosophy, or rhetoric discussing authenticity and virtue.
Everyday
Discussing apologies, compliments, or intentions (e.g., 'I believe in the sincerity of her apology').
Technical
Rare; possibly in psychology discussing self-presentation or in communications theory.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adverb
British English
- He sincerely hoped the weather would hold for the picnic.
- I must sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused.
American English
- She sincerely thanked everyone for their support.
- We sincerely believe this is the best path forward.
adjective
British English
- She gave a sincere apology for the mix-up.
- His sincere belief in the project motivated the team.
American English
- He offered a sincere thank you for the help.
- Her sincere efforts to improve were noted by everyone.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He said 'thank you' with sincerity.
- I like her because her smile is full of sincerity.
- The politician's speech lacked sincerity, so few people believed him.
- I appreciate the sincerity of your offer to help.
- One cannot doubt the evident sincerity of her environmental activism.
- The success of the apology depended entirely on its perceived sincerity.
- His art was criticised for its technical brilliance but queried for its emotional sincerity.
- The treaty was underpinned by a mutual, if cautious, sincerity of purpose.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: SIN-CERE-ITY. A 'sincere' heart (CORE) is without SIN (pretense).
Conceptual Metaphor
SINCERITY IS STRAIGHTNESS (a straight talker), SINCERITY IS DEPTH (deeply felt), SINCERITY IS PURITY (unadulterated feeling).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'искренность' which is a direct correlate. Beware of false friend 'синхронность' (synchronicity).
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'sincerety' or 'sincereness'. Using 'sincerity' to mean 'accuracy' (e.g., 'the sincerity of the data' is wrong).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST synonym for 'sincerity' in the sentence: 'The jury was convinced by the apparent sincerity of the witness's testimony.'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not an emotion itself. It is a quality or state describing how genuine a feeling, belief, or intention is.
The quality itself is positive, but one can be sincerely wrong or sincerely malevolent. The term describes genuineness, not moral goodness.
Honesty is primarily about truth-telling and not deceiving others. Sincerity is about alignment between inner feeling and outward expression; one can be honest without emotional depth, but sincerity implies that depth.
No, 'sincerity' is a noun and not typically graded with 'very'. Use adjectives like 'deep', 'genuine', or 'great' (e.g., 'deep sincerity').
Collections
Part of a collection
High-Level Idiomatic Expressions
C2 · 45 words · Sophisticated idiomatic and nuanced vocabulary.