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
For me, empathy and that elusive righteousness is about restoring lost dignity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 21, 2025
The service heard how she had lived with beauty, goodness and righteousness.
From BBC ● Dec. 17, 2025
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
He hated the acridness in his mother’s and father’s relationship, the conviction of righteousness they each held on to with both hands.
From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison
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.
