ईमानदारी (iimaandaarii)

noun A single-sense abstract noun meaning honesty or integrity, formed from ईमानदार (iimaandaar, 'honest') plus the abstract-noun suffix -ई (ii).
Sense 1 : honesty, integrity
noun, feminine
Synonyms: सच्चाई (sachchaaii, truthfulness/honesty), निष्ठा (nishthaa, loyalty/integrity, more formal), खरापन (kharaapan, rare)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This word carries real civic weight in India -- you'll hear it constantly in conversations about corruption, politics, and business, as in ईमानदारी से टैक्स भरना (iimaandaarii se taiks bharnaa, 'to pay tax honestly'). It's the go-to word for praising a shopkeeper, official, or friend who doesn't cut corners, and it pairs naturally with बरतना (baratnaa, 'to exercise/practice') in slightly more formal speech, as in ईमानदारी बरतना (iimaandaarii baratnaa, 'to practice honesty').
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often say ईमानदार होना (iimaandaar honaa) when they want 'to be honest' as a quality, but reach for ईमानदारी करना (iimaandaarii karnaa, 'to act honestly, to do something honestly') when describing an honest action -- the noun ईमानदारी (iimaandaarii) pairs with करना (karnaa) or से (se, 'with honesty, honestly') rather than होना (honaa). 2) से (se) is the natural way to turn this noun into an adverbial phrase, as in ईमानदारी से काम करना (iimaandaarii se kaam karnaa, 'to work honestly') -- learners sometimes overuse the adjective ईमानदार तरीके से (iimaandaar tariike se) instead, which is grammatical but less idiomatic.
Sample Sentences:
ईमानदारी हमेशा फायदेमंद होती है, भले ही रास्ता मुश्किल हो। Honesty is always beneficial, even if the path is difficult.
(iimaandaarii hameshaa phaaydemand hotii hai, bhale hii raastaa mushkil ho।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसने ईमानदारी से टैक्स भरा। He paid tax honestly.
(usne iimaandaarii se taiks bharaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अधिकारियों को अपने काम में ईमानदारी बरतनी चाहिए। Officials should practice honesty in their work.
(adhikaariyon ko apne kaam men iimaandaarii baratnii chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
काश, राजनीति में थोड़ी और ईमानदारी होती। If only there were a bit more honesty in politics.
(kaash, raajniiti men thodii aur iimaandaarii hotii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
दुकानदार अपनी ईमानदारी के लिए पूरे मोहल्ले में जाना जाता है। The shopkeeper is known throughout the neighborhood for his honesty.
(dukaandaar apnii iimaandaarii ke lie poore mohalle men jaanaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
अपने बयान में ईमानदारी रखो, वरना बाद में मुश्किल होगी। Keep honesty in your statement, or else there will be trouble later.
(apne bayaan men iimaandaarii rakho, varnaa baad men mushkil hogii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम्हें लगता है कि वह ईमानदारी से पेश आएगा? Do you think he will act honestly?
(kyaa tumhen lagtaa hai ki vah iimaandaarii se pesh aaegaa?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
कंपनी का हर लेन-देन पूरी ईमानदारी से किया जाता है। Every transaction of the company is done with complete honesty.
(kampnii kaa har len-den poorii iimaandaarii se kiyaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
अगर उसमें थोड़ी भी ईमानदारी होती, तो वह सच बोल देता। If he had even a little honesty, he would have told the truth.
(agar usmen thodii bhii iimaandaarii hotii, to vah sach bol detaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
सरकारी दफ्तरों में ईमानदारी की भारी कमी है। There is a severe lack of honesty in government offices.
(sarkaarii daphtron men iimaandaarii kii bhaarii kamii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
भ्रष्टाचार के इस दौर में ईमानदारी एक दुर्लभ गुण बन गई है। In this age of corruption, honesty has become a rare virtue.
(bhrashtaachaar ke is daur men iimaandaarii ek durlabh gun ban gaii hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): ईमानदारी (iimaandaarii)
(sg.f.oblique): ईमानदारी (iimaandaarii)
(pl.f.direct): ईमानदारियाँ (iimaandaariyaan)
(pl.f.oblique): ईमानदारियों (iimaandaariyon)