# righteousness

/ˈɹaɪtʃəsnəs/ (US) · /ɹˈaɪtʃəsnəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/righteousness
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. moral goodness

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the quality of being morally right and good.

For teachers: the quality or state of being morally upright, virtuous, or justifiable.

- He was a man of great righteousness who always tried to help the poor.
- The leader's reputation for righteousness made it difficult for his opponents to find any personal scandals to use against him.

Usage: Uncountable in this general moral sense.

### 2. religious holiness

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

living in a way that follows God's laws or religious rules.

For teachers: conformity of life and conduct to divine law or religious principles.

- The priest spoke about the path to righteousness through prayer and fasting.
- In many theological traditions, righteousness is viewed not just as human effort but as a state of grace granted by the divine.

Teaching tip: This sense is very common in scripture and religious sermons but rare in everyday conversation.

### 3. a righteous act

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

a specific action that is morally good or right.

For teachers: a specific act or instance of being righteous.

- The old stories are full of the righteousnesses of the saints.
- The text enumerates the various righteousnesses required of a citizen, from paying taxes to defending the city.

Usage: Used as a countable noun in this sense, though this is rare in modern English.

Teaching tip: Modern speakers almost always use the uncountable form; the plural 'righteousnesses' sounds very old-fashioned.

## Examples

- She was motivated by a strong sense of righteousness.
- The leader spoke with great righteousness, convinced that his cause was the only moral path forward.
- In many classical texts, righteousness is portrayed not merely as a personal virtue but as a social obligation to uphold the divine order of the universe.

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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.