beatitude: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Literary, Formal, Religious
Quick answer
What does “beatitude” mean?
A state of perfect happiness or blessedness.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A state of perfect happiness or blessedness; supreme bliss.
One of the declarations of blessing pronounced by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3–11), used to refer to those specific biblical verses and the spiritual state they describe.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage and meaning are identical. The word is equally rare in both varieties outside of specific religious or academic discourse.
Connotations
Evokes high literary style or specific Christian doctrine in both regions.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general corpora; slightly higher in religious texts and highbrow literature.
Grammar
How to Use “beatitude” in a Sentence
to be in a state of beatitudeto achieve beatitudethe beatitude of [abstract noun, e.g., the beatitude of pure contemplation]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in theology, religious studies, philosophy, and literary analysis.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would sound archaic or pretentious.
Technical
Specific term in Christian theology for the declarations in Matthew 5.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “beatitude”
- Mispronouncing it as /ˈbiːtɪtjuːd/ (like 'beat').
- Using it to mean ordinary happiness.
- Confusing it with "beatific" (though related).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word primarily used in religious, literary, or formal philosophical contexts.
'Beatitude' implies a supreme, often spiritual or perfect state of blessedness and bliss, while 'happiness' is a more general and common term for a positive emotional state.
When referring specifically to the eight blessings listed in Matthew 5:3-11, it is conventional to capitalise the term as 'the Beatitudes'.
No. The related adjective is 'beatific' (e.g., a beatific smile). 'Beatitude' is solely a noun.
A state of perfect happiness or blessedness.
Beatitude is usually literary, formal, religious in register.
Beatitude: in British English it is pronounced /biːˈætɪtjuːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /biˈætɪtuːd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(no common idioms; the word itself is highly specific)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'BEAttiTUDE' as the ultimate positive ATTITUDE—a state of being (BE) so blissfully happy it's almost saintly.
Conceptual Metaphor
BLISS IS A DIVINE STATE; HAPPINESS IS A HIGH PLACE (as in 'supreme' bliss).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'beatitude' most specifically and technically used?