Dignity vs Integrity

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Dignity

FormalTop 2,000 (common)C1noun

Integrity

FormalTop 2,000 (common)C1noun
 DignityIntegrity
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈdɪɡnəti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdɪɡnəti/"]/🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈteɡrəti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈteɡrəti/"]/
MeaningBeing worthy of respect and honor.Being honest and having strong moral principles.
ExampleShe faced the difficult situation with great dignity despite the hardships.Her integrity was unquestionable, and everyone respected her for it.
RegisterFormalFormal
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelC1C1
Part of speechnounnoun
Collocationsenormous, great, calm, have, possess, keep, below somebody’s dignity, beneath somebody’s dignity, with dignity, an air of dignity, a lack of dignity, a loss of dignity, enormous, great, calm, have, possess, keep, below somebody’s dignity, beneath somebody’s dignity, with dignity, an air of dignity, a lack of dignity, a loss of dignity, enormous, great, calm, have, possess, keep, below somebody’s dignity, beneath somebody’s dignity, with dignity, an air of dignity, a lack of dignity, a loss of dignitygreat, high, absolute, have, lack, lose, with integrity, an attack on somebody’s/​something’s integrity, physical, structural, territorial, have, lose, restore, a challenge to something’s integrity, a threat to something’s integrity
Antonymsindignity, humiliation, dishonordishonesty, corruption, deceit
Common mistakesConfused with 'digital'; they sound similar but have different meanings., Using 'dignity' in informal settings where it feels out of place., Mistaking it for 'dignified'; 'dignity' is a noun, 'dignified' is an adjective.Confused with 'integrate' - integrity is about honesty, while integrate means to combine., Using it inappropriately in casual situations where a lighter term would suffice., Mispronouncing it as 'in-tuh-gree-tee' instead of 'in-teg-ri-tee'.
Usage notesUse 'dignity' in formal contexts, such as discussions about ethics or respect. Avoid using it in casual conversations, where simpler terms might be more appropriate.Used in professional and academic settings to discuss character. Avoid casual conversations or contexts that don't require a serious tone.

Frequently asked questions: Dignity vs Integrity

What's the difference between Dignity and Integrity?

Dignity: Being worthy of respect and honor. Integrity: Being honest and having strong moral principles.

Are Dignity and Integrity the same CEFR level?

Dignity: C1, Integrity: C1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Dignity and Integrity?

Dignity: noun, Integrity: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Dignity: She faced the difficult situation with great dignity despite the hardships. Integrity: Her integrity was unquestionable, and everyone respected her for it.

Can I use Dignity and Integrity interchangeably?

Not always. Dignity and Integrity are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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