intègres

Intègres is the plural form of the French adjective intègre, used as a noun to refer to people who are considered to be morally upright and honest. In contemporary usage, the term denotes individuals whose conduct is marked by integrity, sincerity, and consistency between stated principles and actions. It is more commonly found in formal or normative contexts and can carry a weighty or evaluative tone.

Etymology traces intègre to the Latin integer, meaning whole or complete, and to the Old French intègre, which evolved into the modern adjective and noun. The word is closely related to the abstract noun intégrité (integrity) and to synonyms such as honnête, vertueux, and probité, though intègre emphasizes the person rather than the abstract quality.

In usage, intègre often appears in ethical, political, or philosophical discourse. It can describe individuals who are perceived as trustworthy or principled, as well as critique when someone acts against such expectations. Because it carries normative value, it is not a neutral descriptor in all contexts and may be used rhetorically to praise or to admonish.

See also: intégrité; intègre as an adjective; lists of synonyms for moral character. The term is established in standard French dictionaries and is most common in formal writing, moral essays, and discussions of virtue. It should be used with awareness of its evaluative connotations and its potential to idealize behavior.