rectitude
Americannoun
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rightness of principle or conduct; moral virtue.
the rectitude of her motives.
-
correctness.
rectitude of judgment.
noun
-
moral or religious correctness
-
correctness of judgment
Etymology
Origin of rectitude
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French rectitude, “honesty,” from Late Latin rēctitūdin- (stem of rēctitūdō “straightness, upright posture, honesty, justice”), equivalent to Latin rēct(us) right + -tūdin- -tude
Explanation
Rectitude refers to behavior that is correct, upright and honorable. You have moral rectitude if you refuse to be involved with a plan that some kids in your class have to cheat on a test. This is a word that's easy to remember! First of all, rectitude sounds like rector, a member of the clergy, who is supposed to be a person with a highly moral ... 'tude, if you will. It also has the same prefix as rectangle, that most upright of geometric figures. If someone talks about fiscal rectitude, they are concerned with doing the right thing financially.
Vocabulary lists containing rectitude
The Declaration of Independence
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To Kill a Mockingbird
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The Things They Carried
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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.
The central bank worries the culture of fiscal rectitude is fading.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026
It may be unusual for such forthright admissions of wrongdoing to come from an administration not known for scrupulous rectitude.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Shah noted "if he has an ounce of moral rectitude he should return the money".
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
Franklin was less concerned with unfailing rectitude than Washington, yet he also lived by a code of public service and personal honor that made him one of the most celebrated men of his times.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 18, 2023
He shouted, his face red, and his eyes affixed on the essential rectitude of his goal.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
