Righteousness
noun /ˈraɪtʃəsnɪs/ — The quality of acting in accord with divine or moral law — being right in the deepest sense.
Definition
The quality of being morally right or justifiable; the quality of being in accord with divine law; just, moral, and upright behavior.
Beyond the definition
Righteousness carries both the sincere and the cautionary — genuine righteousness is a real quality, while 'self-righteous' names its corruption. The righteous person is not self-congratulatory; they simply are what they appear to be.
Origin & history
From Old English rihtwīsness — uprightness (from riht: right + wīs: manner). The right manner — righteousness as the quality of moving through life in the right way.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Her righteousness was quiet — she did what was right without requiring witnesses.
The righteous and the self-righteous look similar from a distance; the difference is in who benefits.
Righteousness without mercy is justice; righteousness with mercy is grace.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Righteousness” when the meaning fits your context: The quality of being morally right or justifiable; the quality of being in accord with divine law; just, moral, and upright behavior.
Synonyms
virtue, morality, integrity, uprightness, goodness
Antonyms
wickedness, iniquity, immorality
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Entering the Reverent Space
An adult stands at the entrance of an ancient forest, one foot on a sunlit path and the other in shadow.
Stepping from shadow into a light-filled threshold symbolizes righteousness as an alignment with a principled path. It emphasizes the gravity of committing to an upright, just course of behavior, where the individual recognizes the weight of entering a space that demands moral respect.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Righteousness" mean?
Righteousness is noun meaning: The quality of acting in accord with divine or moral law — being right in the deepest sense.. The quality of being morally right or justifiable; the quality of being in accord with divine law; just, moral, and upright behavior.
Where does the word "Righteousness" come from?
From Old English rihtwīsness — uprightness (from riht: right + wīs: manner). The right manner — righteousness as the quality of moving through life in the right way.