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
Does self-checkout encourage shoplifting? Self-checkout largely removes cashiers from registers, leaving shoppers on an uneasy honor system.
—
Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2024
But the Free Press found state restraint and seclusion legislation passed in 2016 didn't include any consequences, and whether schools follow those laws — or accurately report how many times students are secluded or restrained — is largely an honor system.
—Lily Altavena, Detroit Free Press, 6 Aug. 2024
Currently, social media companies only permit people ages 13 and up to use their services and require no age verification beyond the honor system.
—Byalexandra Sternlicht, Fortune, 19 June 2024
At some stations, park employees take borrowers’ contact info, while others operate on the honor system.
—John Meyer, The Denver Post, 14 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for honor system 
Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2024
But the Free Press found state restraint and seclusion legislation passed in 2016 didn't include any consequences, and whether schools follow those laws — or accurately report how many times students are secluded or restrained — is largely an honor system.
—Lily Altavena, Detroit Free Press, 6 Aug. 2024
Currently, social media companies only permit people ages 13 and up to use their services and require no age verification beyond the honor system.
—Byalexandra Sternlicht, Fortune, 19 June 2024
At some stations, park employees take borrowers’ contact info, while others operate on the honor system.
—John Meyer, The Denver Post, 14 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for honor system
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'honor system.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near honor system
Cite this Entry
“Honor system.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honor%20system. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share