Sincere
/sɪnˈsɪər/
Definitions
Free from pretense, deceit, or hypocrisy; genuine.
/sɪnˈsɪər/
Free from pretense or deceit; genuine.
She offered a sincere apology.
💡 Simply: When you're sincere, you mean what you say, and you're not trying to trick anyone. It's like when you give a genuine compliment, or when you really, really mean you're sorry.
👶 For kids: Being sincere means you really mean it! If you say you're happy, you really are.
More Examples
I appreciate your sincere efforts to help.
He gave a sincere smile.
How It's Used
"He offered his sincere condolences."
"She appreciated his sincere interest in her well-being."
Idioms & expressions
a sincere apology
An apology that is genuine and heartfelt.
"After realizing his mistake, he offered a sincere apology for his behavior."
sincere sympathy
Genuine and heartfelt sympathy.
"We extend our sincere sympathy to the family during this difficult time."
From Latin *sincerus*, meaning 'clean, pure, whole'. It later evolved to mean free from deceit or hypocrisy.
The word 'sincere' has been used since the 16th century, initially meaning 'pure' or 'without flaw', but later evolving to convey genuineness in character or expression.
Memory tip
Think of "sin-free" - sincere means being free from hidden motives or bad intentions.
Word Origin
"clean, pure, whole"