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
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
Adjective
There was a lot of suspicion about whether the DNA testing that had been done was really aboveboard and accurate.—Ashley Luthern, Journal Sentinel, 3 May 2023 That panel acted as a seal of approval from the profession as a whole, a sign that the competition would be rigorous and aboveboard.—Curbed, 17 Mar. 2022 See all Example Sentences for aboveboard
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aboveboard.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adverb
above entry 2 + board entry 1; from the difficulty of cheating at cards when the hands are above the table
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