Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

forthright

/ˈfɔɹθˌɹaɪt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.78 in modern English

Syllables: forth-right
IPA: /ˈfɔɹθˌɹaɪt/

20

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Straightforward; not evasive; candid and direct.

adj

Frank, outspoken.

adj

Markedly simple.

adj

Fixed; settled; decided.

adj

Proceeding straight forth.

Archaic

noun

A straight path.

Archaic

adv

Expressly, frankly, unhesitatingly.

adv

At once, forthwith.

Example Sentences

"The witness was considered eminently credible thanks to her forthright answers."
"TSSA General Secretary Manuel Cortes was typically forthright in his criticism by claiming that Sunak had "blatantly failed" to cure "a growing tragedy", as "every single day, more and more families can't make ends meet"."
"Gonzalo: […]Here's a maze trod indeed / Through forth-rights and meanders !"

Etymology

From Middle English forþright, forþriʒt, forþriht, from Old English forþriht (“direct, plain”). By surface analysis, forth + right.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: forþright, forþriht, forthright, forþrihte
Suffix: forþriht

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈfɔɹθˌɹaɪt/
British English: /ˈfɔːθˌɹaɪt/

Usage

Archaic

Inflected Forms

more forthright (comparative) most forthright (superlative) forthrights (plural)

Derived Forms

forthrightly forthrightness unforthright

Synonyms

out-front blunt candid frank free-spoken outspoken plainspoken point-blank straight-from-the-shoulder

Rhymes With

right might night white light quite fight site non-white write tonight despite

Questions

How do you pronounce forthright?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈfɔɹθˌɹaɪt/.
What does forthright mean?: Straightforward; not evasive; candid and direct.
Where does forthright come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce forthright

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “forthright”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈfɔɹθˌɹaɪt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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Repeat and practice — Say “forthright” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.