1. Home
  2. English
  3. English
  4. honest-to-goodness

What is "honest-to-goodness" in English? Definition and Explanations

Updated: 11-07-2026 by Wikilanguages.net
☞ share facebook ☞ share twitter

What does honest-to-goodness mean in English? Meaning of honest-to-goodness definition and abbreviation with examples.

EnglishEnglish
pronunciation pronunciation

What is "honest-to-goodness" in English? Definition and Explanations

Meaning of "honest-to-goodness": (used informally especially for emphasis)

Adjective

  • Meaning: (used informally especially for emphasis)
  • Example: a real honest-to-god live cowboy had us a high old time went upriver to look at a sure-enough fish wheel
  • Synonyms: honest-to-god honest-to-goodness old sure-enough
  • Similar: echt genuine
  • Adjective: (attributive only) Real; genuine. Is the clam chowder made with honest-to-goodness clams? 1961 (republished 2010), Joseph Heller, Catch-22, London: Vintage Books, ISBN 978-0-09-955218-5, page 22: [']I'm a real, slam-bang, honest-to-goodness, three-fisted humdinger. I'm a bona fide supraman.' 'Superman?' Clevinger cried. 'Superman?' 'Supraman,' Yossarian corrected. 2011, John Rogers, Clara Nickerson Boden, The Cut of Her Jib, page 82: Captain Mark heard about it; and dropped in after school to commend his protege. "Young lady, that's the most honest-to-goodness useful thing I ever heard hail from a schoolroom!"1961 (republished 2010), Joseph Heller, Catch-22, London: Vintage Books, ISBN 978-0-09-955218-5, page 22: [']I'm a real, slam-bang, honest-to-goodness, three-fisted humdinger. I'm a bona fide supraman.' 'Superman?' Clevinger cried. 'Superman?' 'Supraman,' Yossarian corrected.2011, John Rogers, Clara Nickerson Boden, The Cut of Her Jib, page 82: Captain Mark heard about it; and dropped in after school to commend his protege. "Young lady, that's the most honest-to-goodness useful thing I ever heard hail from a schoolroom!"

    • Synonyms:

    natural, positive, honest, certain, legitimate, pure, bona fide, palpable, absolute, accurate, actual, demonstrable, exact, factual, good, hard, indubitable, kosher, literal, official, original, plain, precise, proved, sound, sterling, -carat, 24-carat, absolute, accurate, actual, authentic, bona fide, certain, factual, honest, kosher, legitimate, official, on the level, positive, real, straight, unquestionable, valid, legit, true, authenticated, certified, for real, for-sure, no buts about it, on the up-and-up, real stuff, really-truly, sure-enough, sure-thing,

    Antonyms:

    indefinite, uncertain, unsure, questionable, counterfeit, illegitimate, sham, unreal, deceptive, dishonest, insincere, misleading, doubtful, dubious, false, affected, deceiving,

    English

    Related Dictionary

    Read more

    English speaking countries and territories

    All Dictionary for you

    Biggest dictionary system for all of languages in the World. English Dictionary Free.
    Wikilanguages.net online dictionary could translate in 80 languages free. Get English dictionary online for mobile and PC.
    © 2026 Copyright by Wikilanguages.net
    Legal Disclaimer - Privacy Statement

    English DictionaryEnglish

    honest-to-goodness in English: honest-to-goodness
    🔝