# righteous

/ˈɹaɪtʃəs/ (US) · /ɹˈaɪtʃəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/righteous
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. morally good

adjective · CEFR B2

behaving in a way that is morally right and good.

For teachers: acting in accord with divine or moral law; free from guilt or sin.

- He lived a righteous life and was always helping people in his community.
- The community regarded him as a righteous man, noting his unwavering commitment to ethical business practices and charitable works.

### 2. justified or fair

adjective · CEFR B2

feeling that an action or emotion is fair and correct.

For teachers: arising from an outraged sense of justice or morality; morally justifiable.

- She felt a sense of righteous anger when she saw the unfair treatment of the workers.
- The protesters were fueled by righteous indignation, believing that the new legislation was a direct assault on their fundamental civil liberties.

### 3. excellent

adjective · CEFR C1 · American English · Slang

very good or impressive.

For teachers: excellent, impressive, or genuine in quality.

- That was a righteous meal; I have never tasted better pizza.
- The surfer caught a righteous wave that carried him all the way to the shore, much to the delight of the onlookers.

Usage: Commonly used in 1960s and 70s counter-culture, though it persists in specific subcultures like surfing.

Teaching tip: This slang sense is quite dated and specific to American English; learners should use it only in very informal, retro contexts.

## Examples

- He felt a righteous anger after seeing the unfair treatment.
- The activist spent her entire life fighting for a righteous cause that many others had ignored.
- While the politician claimed his motives were entirely righteous, the public remained skeptical of his sudden shift in policy just weeks before the general election.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.