Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

above-board

/əˈbʌvˌbɔɹd/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.92 in modern English

Syllables: a-bove-board
IPA: /əˈbʌvˌbɔɹd/

18

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

In open sight; without trick, concealment, or deception.

adv

Honestly; openly.

Example Sentences

"fair and aboveboard"
"Nothing illegal about any of this to my knowledge. Indeed, this is the very above-board racket of running an independent political committee. Everyone does it. Left, right, center and none of the above. And anyway, why shouldn't a true pay-triot get paid?"
"Over the weekend, Android owners were displeased to discover that Facebook had been scraping their text-message and phone-call metadata, in some cases for years, an operation hidden in the fine print of a user agreement clause until Ars Technica reported. Facebook was quick to defend the practice as entirely aboveboard—small comfort to those who are beginning to realize that, because Facebook is a free service, they and their data are by necessity the products."

Etymology

From above + board (“table”). First attested in 1610. Said by Johnson to have been borrowed from gamblers, who, when they change their cards, put their hands under the table.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /əˈbʌvˌbɔɹd/

Inflected Forms

aboveboard (alternative) above board (alternative) above the board (alternative, dated)

Synonyms

straightforward transparent

Questions

How do you pronounce above-board?: The recorded pronunciation is /əˈbʌvˌbɔɹd/.
What does above-board mean?: In open sight; without trick, concealment, or deception.
Where does above-board come from?: From above + board (“table”). First attested in 1610. Said by Johnson to have been borrowed from gamblers, who, when they change their cards, put their hands under the table.

How to pronounce above-board

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “above-board”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/əˈbʌvˌbɔɹd/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “above-board”.
Repeat and practice — Say “above-board” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.