piety
- 01 C1 Advanced
the quality of being very religious and showing great respect for God or a religion through your actions.
the quality of being devout and showing deep reverence for a deity or religious obligations.
Simple“The monk was famous throughout the country for his quiet piety and kindness.”
In context“Her life was a testament to her deep piety, marked by daily prayer and a steadfast commitment to the teachings of her faith.”
UsageUncountable in this sense.
- 02 C1 Advanced
a deep sense of duty and respect toward your parents, family, or your country.
dutifulness and devotion to one's parents, family, or nation; often used in the context of 'filial piety'.
Simple“In many cultures, showing piety toward your parents is considered a vital virtue.”
In context“The traditional concept of filial piety requires children to care for their parents in old age as a mark of respect.”
UsageOften appears in the fixed phrase 'filial piety'.
Teacher's tipLearners should note that while the religious sense is primary, the 'filial' sense is very common in sociological and historical texts.
- 03 C2 Proficiency
a specific act, thought, or comment that shows religious belief.
a specific devout or virtuous act, thought, or statement.
Simple“The book was full of the usual pieties about hard work and faith.”
In context“He often repeated the same religious pieties, though his actions rarely matched his words.”
UsageCountable in this sense; often used in the plural.
Teacher's tipIn modern usage, this sense can sometimes carry a slightly negative nuance, suggesting the statements are empty or repetitive.
Synonymsplatitudemaxim
“A thousand pieties were then uttered in the wake of the Covid pandemic regarding the need to invest in global health security and future preparedness.”
“For example, in adulthood, 27 states have filial piety laws that require adult children to bear financial and, in some cases, direct caregiving responsibility for aging parents.”
From Middle English piete, borrowed from Middle French pieté, from Latin pietās. See also the doublets pietà and pity. By surface analysis, pious + -ety.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.