What does faithworthy mean?
Faithworthy is an adjective meaning worthy of trust or belief — describing a person, statement, or source on which others can confidently rely. Someone faithworthy has demonstrated the honesty, competence, or consistency that justifies placing faith in them, whether as a witness, an adviser, or a friend. The word is formed by combining 'faith' with the suffix '-worthy,' which turns a quality into a standard of merit, in the same pattern as 'praiseworthy' or 'newsworthy.' Despite its transparent construction, faithworthy is rare in modern English; speakers overwhelmingly choose 'trustworthy' to convey the same idea, reserving faithworthy for formal, legal, or deliberately elevated registers. Its connotations are entirely positive, implying not merely reliability but a character that earns genuine confidence. For readers, encountering faithworthy usually signals careful, considered prose — and understanding it is straightforward once its two familiar halves are recognized.
adjectiveWorthy of being trusted or believed; reliable and dependable.
- Deserving of trust or confidence; reliable and credible.
"The judge dismissed the testimony as coming from no faithworthy source."
"Only a faithworthy witness would be permitted to testify at the hearing."
"Her years of honest reporting made her a faithworthy voice on financial matters."
Faithworthy flips the usual perspective: instead of describing how much faith you have, it describes how much faith you deserve.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of faithworthy
Faithworthy is formed within English from the noun 'faith' combined with the adjectival combining form '-worthy,' meaning 'deserving of.' The noun faith itself derives from Latin 'fides,' meaning trust or belief, which entered English via Old French 'feid.' The '-worthy' suffix comes from Old English 'weorþig' ('worth'), making the compound a pairing of Romance and Germanic elements. It belongs to the same productive family as 'trustworthy,' 'praiseworthy,' and 'blameworthy,' though it never achieved their currency.
Related word forms
How faithworthy is actually used
Faithworthy is a rare and somewhat formal or archaic word; in everyday speech and writing, 'trustworthy' is strongly preferred. It appears mainly in older texts, legal or religious contexts, and deliberate literary usage.
Easily confused with faithworthy
Trustworthy is by far the more common word for 'deserving of trust,' while faithworthy is a rarer synonym that emphasizes belief or faith in someone's reliability.
Faithful describes someone who is loyal and keeps promises, whereas faithworthy describes someone who merits other people's faith in them.