Usage
What does righteousness mean? Righteousness is the quality of being virtuous, honorable, or morally right. It can also refer to such behavior. Righteousness is the noun form of the adjective righteous. Being righteous means doing what is right—obeying the law or adhering to morals. Both righteous and righteousness are often used in a religious context. Example: It’s not easy to follow the path of righteousness—in fact, if an action is difficult to take, it’s probably right!
Etymology
Origin of righteousness
First recorded before 900; Middle English rightwisnes(se), Old English rihtwīsnes; equivalent to righteous + -ness
Explanation
Righteousness is a feeling or way of life that is all about doing the right thing: righteousness shows great concern for morals and ethics. Righteousness may sound like an old-fashioned word, but it's a timeless concept. As you can tell from seeing the word right, this is a word about taking a stand and doing the right thing. Trying to help poor, oppressed people is a cause full of righteousness. Doing an unpopular thing that is ethical requires righteousness. People like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela definitely walked the path of righteousness.
Vocabulary lists containing righteousness
Figurative Language in King's "I Have a Dream" Speech (1963)
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Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" Speech (1963)
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Christmas Carol Vocab: A Lyrical Lexicon
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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.
So how is it that one can’t speak righteousness?
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026
“Alas,” Chen says, “neither virtue nor righteousness is worth a single penny in today’s China.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026
Instead, he seems as if he’s trying to lacquer on a veneer of righteousness to some very nasty business.
From Slate • Nov. 20, 2025
In a society still influenced by Confucian values such as righteousness and obedience, mental health issues remain heavily stigmatised and many experience feelings of shame or social judgement.
From BBC • Oct. 18, 2025
He didn’t suffer, as many “honest men” do, from the detestable righteousness that diminishes their virtue.
From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou
Definitions 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.
