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my goodness

American

[mahy good-nis] / ˌmaɪ ˈgʊd nɪs /

Sometimes my goodness gracious also oh my goodness

interjection

(used as an interjection to express surprise, excitement, mild alarm, etc.).

My goodness, how the time has flown!
Top that with rich, pungent blue cheese and, oh my goodness, I can't even begin to describe the flavor.

Etymology

Origin of my goodness

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Oh, my goodness, it’s becoming more visible,” exclaimed the 64-year-old Thater.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

"When I go in each day I think, oh my goodness what's going to happen now?" she said.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

"They must be from above smiling down on you and thinking, my goodness me, what a wonderful, wonderful father, husband, sister," she added.

From Barron's • Dec. 31, 2025

“I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, we have a Christmas movie here!’”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 11, 2025

“Oh my goodness, Mrs. Goble, it’s the least we can do.”

From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023