What does trustworthy mean?
Trustworthy is an adjective meaning that a person, organization, source, or object is worthy of trust. It combines the ideas of honesty, reliability, integrity, and dependability, and is often used when discussing the character of a person or the credibility of information. A trustworthy friend keeps confidences, a trustworthy journalist reports carefully, and a trustworthy service performs consistently. The word can describe both people and things, but it often carries a slightly stronger sense of moral character than reliable does. Its positive connotation makes it useful for expressing confidence in someone or something whose conduct can be verified through experience or evidence. Trustworthy is especially valuable in discussions of business, media, institutions, and personal relationships, where confidence depends on confidence in another person or organization.
adjectiveA trustworthy person, source, account, or object is considered reliable, honest, and able to be trusted. It describes someone or something whose integrity or accuracy can reasonably be relied upon.
- Able to be trusted; reliable, honest, and dependable.
"The newspaper is widely regarded as a trustworthy source of information."
"She gave a trustworthy account of what had happened."
"Customers are more likely to remain with a trustworthy company."
Trustworthy is built on a simple promise: it combines trust with -worthy, meaning worthy of being trusted.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does trustworthy come from?
Trustworthy is a compound formed from trust and the suffix -worthy, literally suggesting that something is worthy of trust. Trust has roots in Old English religious and social language, while worthy derives from Old English weorþig, meaning having worth or value. The compound has been in use since the early modern period, and related forms such as trusty, trustee, and distrust reflect the older vocabulary built around trust.
Related word forms
How trustworthy is actually used
Trustworthy is widely used in formal and informal registers. It is especially common for people, sources, information, institutions, and systems, although reliable may sound more natural for a machine, process, or service.
Easily confused with trustworthy
Reliable emphasizes consistent performance or stability, while trustworthy more specifically emphasizes honesty, integrity, and the willingness to be held to a standard of trust.
Credible focuses chiefly on whether a statement, account, or source is believable, whereas trustworthy also suggests that the person or institution has dependable character and conduct.