aboveboard
1 of 2adverb
above·board ə-ˈbəv-ˌbȯrd 
: in a straightforward manner : openly
aboveboard
2 of 2adjective
: free from all traces of deceit or duplicity
Example Sentences
Adjective The committee tried to be fair and aboveboard in its hiring. an aboveboard and responsible proposal She acted in a completely open and aboveboard way.
Recent Examples on the Web
New York Times, 11 May 2022 Live bands already perform at Catonsville establishments, and the bill will bring current practices aboveboard. Taylor Deville, baltimoresun.com, 8 Oct. 2019 Nearly a century later, Morris’s great-nephew Kevin is also in the beverage business—but aboveboard, as the owner of Loma Brewing Company in Northern California. Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 2 July 2019 Nearly a century later, Morris’s great-nephew Kevin is also in the beverage business—but aboveboard, as the owner of Loma Brewing Company in Northern California. Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 2 July 2019 Nearly a century later, Morris’s great-nephew Kevin is also in the beverage business—but aboveboard, as the owner of Loma Brewing Company in Northern California. Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 2 July 2019 Nearly a century later, Morris’s great-nephew Kevin is also in the beverage business—but aboveboard, as the owner of Loma Brewing Company in Northern California. Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 2 July 2019 Nearly a century later, Morris’s great-nephew Kevin is also in the beverage business—but aboveboard, as the owner of Loma Brewing Company in Northern California. Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 2 July 2019 Nearly a century later, Morris’s great-nephew Kevin is also in the beverage business—but aboveboard, as the owner of Loma Brewing Company in Northern California. Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 2 July 2019 Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2022 Nevertheless, questions remain about how public officials and regulators will ensure everyone from the company’s top investors to the subcontractor who paves the parking lot is aboveboard. Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2022 Few of the family’s other aboveboard ventures have worked out. New York Times, 24 Dec. 2021 Spur someone to constructive action by being direct and aboveboard. Tribune Content Agency, oregonlive, 18 Aug. 2021 Surely, everything happening behind the scenes in the act of crafting self-driving cars is completely aboveboard and hunky-dory. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 23 June 2021 That type of crime-solving approach would be an aboveboard use of self-driving cars as an aid in crimefighting. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 12 June 2021 Assume that self-driving cars will potentially be explicitly programmed with such a capability and are aiming to be used when the driving situation is aboveboard for the use of brake checking. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 17 May 2021 His defense lawyers maintained the transactions were all aboveboard. Kim Chandler, Star Tribune, 11 Sep. 2020 See More
Adverb
But now that going legal is an option, legacy businesses like Buddy’s are being watched over by officials who hope to see the entire industry move aboveboard. New York Times, 11 May 2022 Live bands already perform at Catonsville establishments, and the bill will bring current practices aboveboard. Taylor Deville, baltimoresun.com, 8 Oct. 2019 Nearly a century later, Morris’s great-nephew Kevin is also in the beverage business—but aboveboard, as the owner of Loma Brewing Company in Northern California. Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 2 July 2019 Nearly a century later, Morris’s great-nephew Kevin is also in the beverage business—but aboveboard, as the owner of Loma Brewing Company in Northern California. Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 2 July 2019 Nearly a century later, Morris’s great-nephew Kevin is also in the beverage business—but aboveboard, as the owner of Loma Brewing Company in Northern California. Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 2 July 2019 Nearly a century later, Morris’s great-nephew Kevin is also in the beverage business—but aboveboard, as the owner of Loma Brewing Company in Northern California. Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 2 July 2019 Nearly a century later, Morris’s great-nephew Kevin is also in the beverage business—but aboveboard, as the owner of Loma Brewing Company in Northern California. Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 2 July 2019 Nearly a century later, Morris’s great-nephew Kevin is also in the beverage business—but aboveboard, as the owner of Loma Brewing Company in Northern California. Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 2 July 2019 Adjective
Far from being eradicated, the black market is booming in plain sight, luring customers away from aboveboard retailers with their cheaper — if untested and unregulated — product. Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2022 Nevertheless, questions remain about how public officials and regulators will ensure everyone from the company’s top investors to the subcontractor who paves the parking lot is aboveboard. Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2022 Few of the family’s other aboveboard ventures have worked out. New York Times, 24 Dec. 2021 Spur someone to constructive action by being direct and aboveboard. Tribune Content Agency, oregonlive, 18 Aug. 2021 Surely, everything happening behind the scenes in the act of crafting self-driving cars is completely aboveboard and hunky-dory. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 23 June 2021 That type of crime-solving approach would be an aboveboard use of self-driving cars as an aid in crimefighting. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 12 June 2021 Assume that self-driving cars will potentially be explicitly programmed with such a capability and are aiming to be used when the driving situation is aboveboard for the use of brake checking. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 17 May 2021 His defense lawyers maintained the transactions were all aboveboard. Kim Chandler, Star Tribune, 11 Sep. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Adverb
above entry 2 + board entry 1; from the difficulty of cheating at cards when the hands are above the table
First Known Use
Adverb
1594, in the meaning defined above
Adjective
1615, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
aboveboard 1 of 2
adverb
above·board ə-ˈbəv-ˌbȯrd
: in an honest open way
All business is done aboveboard.
aboveboard
2 of 2adjective
: free from tricks and secrecy
an aboveboard sale
aboveboard
adjective
as in honest
straightforward in manner The committee tried to be fair and aboveboard in its hiring. an aboveboard and responsible proposal Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- honest
- reliable
- trustworthy
- truthful
- frank
- dependable
- forthright
- open
- candid
- openhearted
- credible
- trustable
- veracious
- outspoken
- trusty
- forthcoming
- guileless
- artless
- plain
- direct
- unaffected
- earnest
- scrupulous
- foursquare
- plainspoken
- genuine
- out-front
- unpretending
- unpretentious
- believable
- free-spoken
- conscientious
- veritable
- true
- principled
- freehearted
- moral
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- untrue
- false
- unscrupulous
- untrustworthy
- fallacious
- insincere
- unreliable
- undependable
- unbelievable
- duplicitous
- pretending
- hypocritical
- artful
- underhanded
- evasive
- devious
- deceptive
- deceitful
- dishonest
- sly
- tricky
- wily
- treacherous
- dissembling
- slick
- sneaky
- dissimulating
- untruthful
- slippery
- mendacious
- lying
- bluffing
- equivocating
- posing
- fibbing
- prevaricating