goodness

[ good-nis ]

noun

1. the state or quality of being good.

   Antonyms: evil

2. moral excellence; virtue.

   Synonyms: probity, honesty, integrity

3. kindly feeling; kindness; generosity.

   Synonyms: humanity, benignity, benevolence

4. excellence of quality:

   goodness of workmanship.

   Synonyms: merit, value, worth

5. the best part of anything; essential property; strength.
6. a euphemism for God:

   Thank goodness!

interjection

1. Also goodness gracious. (used in expressions of surprise, alarm, etc.):

   Goodness, you gave me a start!

   Goodness gracious, this article is so badly written!

goodness

/ ˈɡʊdnɪs /

noun

1. the state or quality of being good
2. generosity; kindness
3. moral excellence; piety; virtue

interjection

1. See God
   a euphemism for God

   goodness knows!

   thank goodness!

Other Words From

• su·per·good·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of goodness¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English gōdnes; good, -ness

Idioms and Phrases

• for the sake of
• god (goodness) knows
• honest to god (goodness)
• my god (goodness

Synonym Study

Goodness, morality, virtue refer to qualities of character or conduct that entitle the possessor to approval and esteem. Goodness is the simple word for the general quality recognized in character or conduct: Many could tell of her goodness and kindness. Morality implies conformity to the recognized standards of right conduct: a citizen of the highest morality. Virtue is a rather formal word, and suggests usually goodness that is consciously or steadily maintained, often in spite of temptations or evil influences: of unassailable virtue; firm and of unwavering virtue.

Example Sentences

Thank goodness that we have this private-sector expertise that we want to shape into a global public good that gets to everybody on the planet.

From Fortune

Plato thought that before birth we resided in the world of “the Forms,” together with numbers, universals, and goodness itself.

From Nautilus

We’re all bogged down and floundering, questioning our own goodness while we arch our eyebrows at our friends and argue over whose patch of muck is really solid ground.

From FiveThirtyEight

We’re capable of great evil in some cases, but we’re also capable of great goodness.

From Freakonomics

So they don’t want to actually confront the United States Navy, for goodness sake.

From Freakonomics

But my goodness, even the air around Oxford University is studious.

From The Daily Beast

All would attest to the manifest goodness that inspired the perfect nickname for the boy who would become a perfect cop.

From The Daily Beast

That goodness steered him clear of the Sex Boys, the Crazy Homicides, the Sons of Nuns, and the other gangs of East New York.

From The Daily Beast

Enforcement of U.S Code, Title VII, Chapter 25A “Export Standards for Grapes and Plums” remains fully funded, thank goodness.

From The Daily Beast

In a country with a constitution that values secularism, religion is still the prime indicator of morality and goodness.

From The Daily Beast

And he stood up in the shameful fall of the people: in the goodness and readiness of his soul he appeased God for Israel.

From Project Gutenberg

In truth, M. de Biancourt's goodness and prudence seemed much shaken by this tempest of human passions.

From Project Gutenberg

Goodness only knew what a falchion was, but there was the Griffin, and his history was an improvement upon the eternal Cat.

From Project Gutenberg

After all she, Hilda, possessed some mysterious characteristic more potent than the elegance and the goodness of Janet Orgreave.

From Project Gutenberg

One finds new friends;—and dear little girls; and—goodness knows what I shall find next.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• decency
• friendliness
• generosity
• good will
• grace
• graciousness
• honesty
• integrity
• kindness
• mercy
• morality
• righteousness
• rightness
• superiority
• virtue