righteousness
C1Formal, literary, religious
Definition
Meaning
Morally right behaviour or justice, often linked to virtuous action or divine command
The quality of being morally justifiable; often carries connotations of piety, moral superiority, or self-assured correctness; can imply an adherence to a moral or religious code
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily abstract noun; often used in religious contexts but also appears in secular moral philosophy; connotes both the quality of being morally right and the act of upholding moral principles; can sometimes carry a negative connotation of self-righteousness
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common in American English, particularly in religious contexts; British usage tends toward more secular/philosophical contexts; 'self-righteousness' as a pejorative is equally common in both
Connotations
Both associate it strongly with religion; American usage has stronger evangelical Protestant connotations; British usage may lean toward Anglican/established church or secular ethical discourse
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech; high frequency in religious texts, sermons, ethical writing
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
pursue righteousnessstrive for righteousnesslive in righteousnessdemonstrate righteousnessbe filled with righteousnessVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “holier-than-thou attitude (negative)”
- “on the side of the angels”
- “moral high ground”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; appears in ethics policies or corporate social responsibility discourse
Academic
Common in theology, philosophy, ethics, literature studies
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation; occasional in serious moral discussions
Technical
Theological term with specific doctrinal meanings (e.g., imputed righteousness in Protestant theology)
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He sought to righteous his actions through appeals to tradition.
- They attempted to righteous the policy change.
American English
- She tried to righteous her decision by citing company values.
- He righteoused his position with biblical references.
adverb
British English
- He acted righteously throughout the ordeal.
- She spoke righteously about her principles.
American English
- They marched righteously toward the capitol.
- He argued righteously for the reform.
adjective
British English
- A righteous indignation swept through the crowd.
- His righteous anger was palpable.
American English
- She felt a righteous conviction about the cause.
- A righteous fervour animated the movement.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Good people show righteousness.
- The story teaches us about the importance of righteousness and honesty.
- Many religions emphasise personal righteousness and ethical living as central to faith.
- Her unwavering righteousness, while admirable, sometimes bordered on inflexibility in moral judgement.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'RIGHT' + 'EOUS' (like 'courageous') + 'NESS' = the state of being right-acting
Conceptual Metaphor
RIGHTEOUSNESS IS A PATH/JOURNEY ('walk in righteousness'), RIGHTEOUSNESS IS A GARMENT/COVERING ('clothed in righteousness'), RIGHTEOUSNESS IS PURITY ('cleansed by righteousness')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not equivalent to просто 'правильность' or 'справедливость'; carries stronger moral/religious weight; closer to 'праведность' or 'благочестие'
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'rightousness' (omitting 'e'), Confusing with 'self-righteousness' (negative), Using in casual contexts where 'morality' or 'justice' would be more natural
Practice
Quiz
Which context is 'righteousness' LEAST likely to appear in naturally?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Righteousness' is positive (moral virtue). 'Self-righteousness' is negative (smug moral superiority).
Yes, but it's less common. In secular contexts, it often appears in philosophical or formal discussions about ethics and justice.
'Justice and righteousness' is a very common paired phrase, especially in religious and formal texts.
Typically uncountable. You don't have 'a righteousness' or 'righteousnesses'. It refers to an abstract quality.
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