rzetelne

Rzetelne is the neuter singular or plural form of the Polish adjective rzetelny, meaning reliable, trustworthy, and accurate. It is used to describe information, data, sources, as well as work, statements, and people who are conscientious and committed to factual correctness.

In everyday and formal usage, rzetelne occurs with neuter or plural nouns such as rzetelne źródła (reliable sources), rzetelne dane (reliable data), rzetelne informacje (reliable information), and rzetelny raport (reliable report). The term is common in journalism, science, and professional communication, where the emphasis is on verification, thoroughness, and adherence to facts.

Rzetelne carries a nuance of methodological reliability and responsibility. It implies not only truthfulness but also a diligent, evidence-based approach to presenting and interpreting information. It is often contrasted with terms like wiarygodny (credible) or prawdziwy (true); while wiarygodny concerns believability to an audience, rzetelny emphasizes accuracy, completeness, and consistency of the data or reporting.

Etymologically, rzetelne derives from the noun rzetelność, meaning reliability or honesty, with the adjective form adapting to gender and number according to Polish grammar. The concept is a stable part of Polish academic, legal, and media language.

See also: rzetelność, wiarygodność, źródło.