good faith

noun

1. accordance with standards of honesty, trust, sincerity, etc. (usually preceded by in ):

   If you act in good faith, he'll have no reason to question your motives.

Word History and Origins

Origin of good faith¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Idioms and Phrases

see under in bad faith .

Example Sentences

But, nevertheless, it is his moral duty to recount these things in “good faith” and “in dealing with the facts,” causing him to risk it all for the truth.

From Time

Admonishing the union, Lightfoot warned of consequences if it didn’t work in good faith toward an agreement.

From Washington Post

The system is built on the idea that elected officials will represent their constituents in good faith.

From Washington Post

The real question, then, was whether they would reserve the ability to do so at a later date, if their members decided that Republicans weren’t operating in good faith.

From Washington Post

In a statement, Hughes said that the company acted in good faith by settling for less than what it was owed.

From ProPublica

Any policy, progressive or not, can be criticized in good faith.

From The Daily Beast

As an initial act of good faith, Schwend agreed to turn over to the OSS all of his “hidden valuables.”

From The Daily Beast

In his report, Clark concluded the employee in question had followed the rules and acted “in good faith.”

From The Daily Beast

“Tesla will not initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use our technology,” he wrote.

From The Daily Beast

My wish is that you choose to give others the same presumption of good faith that you want to be given.

From The Daily Beast

And if the bailee is a finder who has bestowed labor on the article found in good faith, the same rule applies.

From Project Gutenberg

On the other hand directors are not permitted to abuse their power; they must act in good faith.

From Project Gutenberg

But he must select a home in good faith and in reasonable accordance with his means and their accustomed mode of life.

From Project Gutenberg

This is a great responsibility to repose in the mortgagee, and he must perform the trust in good faith in every respect.

From Project Gutenberg

The Tories, with Seymour at their head, appealed both to the good faith and to the compassion of Parliament.

From Project Gutenberg