honor system
noun
: a system (as at a college) whereby persons are trusted to abide by the regulations (as for a code of conduct) without supervision or surveillance
Examples of honor system in a Sentence
Customers are on the honor system to pay for any software they choose to purchase.
Recent Examples on the Web
Since October, Christie Baron has spent weekends stacking round loaves of her leavened, airy bread onto a cart in her driveway and inviting customers to buy the homemade goodness via the honor system.
—
Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Its historic honor system expects every member of the community, especially students, to act honestly, respectfully, and responsibly.
—Blake D. Morant, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Florida’s approach for policing water contamination amounts to an honor system that protects polluting industries — including agriculture and development, whose representatives lobby heavily in Tallahassee, the Times found.
—Bethany Barnes, Miami Herald, 13 Jan. 2026
But the guidelines — which allow sellers to price their tickets themselves and don’t always require proof of purchase of the original tickets — create basically an honor system that expects sellers will act in good faith.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for honor system
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Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Its historic honor system expects every member of the community, especially students, to act honestly, respectfully, and responsibly.
—Blake D. Morant, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Florida’s approach for policing water contamination amounts to an honor system that protects polluting industries — including agriculture and development, whose representatives lobby heavily in Tallahassee, the Times found.
—Bethany Barnes, Miami Herald, 13 Jan. 2026
But the guidelines — which allow sellers to price their tickets themselves and don’t always require proof of purchase of the original tickets — create basically an honor system that expects sellers will act in good faith.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for honor system
Cite this Entry
“Honor system.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honor%20system. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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