2026-10-21

How do we say “integrity” in Lithuanian?

The Office of the Ombudsperson for Academic Ethics and Procedures of the Republic of Lithuania was invited to take part in the Transparency Workshop “Integrity: How Do We Say It in Lithuanian?”, organised by Transparency International Lithuania and held at the Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Lithuania. According to the organisers, leading experts from various fields were brought together to address this question. The Office was represented by its Communications Coordinator, Gabrielė Dambrauskaitė.

The event opened with a lecture by Professor Paul Heywood on the nuances of the concept of integrity and its relationship with transparency and corruption prevention. Linguists, journalists, researchers, and specialists in prevention, compliance and ethics then discussed which Lithuanian equivalent would best convey its meaning.

The main suggestions included Lithuanian terms conveying honesty, moral virtue and wholeness. Participants also considered terms reflecting adherence to principles, moral consistency, alignment of values, and professional and institutional integrity. The discussion highlighted that integrity encompasses not only compliance with rules, but also acting consistently in accordance with one’s values and taking responsibility for one’s decisions. Transparency was also discussed as a commitment to conceal nothing.

The Lithuanian word “sąžiningumas”, meaning honesty, received the most support. It is already used in the Lithuanian term for academic integrity. However, the aim was not to reach a final agreement on a single equivalent. The discussion revealed the importance of agreeing not only on the word itself, but also on the values and behaviour it describes.

For the Office, this question is relevant when drafting and translating documents, participating in international projects and communicating about academic ethics. Clear and consistent terminology helps the academic community develop a shared understanding of integrity principles and apply them in practice.

The search for a Lithuanian equivalent of “integrity” is expected to continue in future discussions.

Photos from the Office’s archives and courtesy of Sergejus Muravjovas