First Known Use: 1530
Dictionary
righteous
adjective righ·teous \ˈrī-chəs\
: morally good : following religious or moral laws
: caused by something that you believe is not morally right or fair
Full Definition of RIGHTEOUS
2
See righteous defined for English-language learners
See righteous defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Examples of RIGHTEOUS
- The mix of Yorkshire-inherited bluntness and a caustic, chirpy South London cynicism (vividly parodied and perhaps too endearingly celebrated in the voice of Dora Chance, narrator of Wise Children) stops her from sounding righteous or dogmatic. —Hermione Lee, Times Literary Supplement, 19 June 1992
- I didn't know until long after I was grown that Grandpa Durham—that stern and righteous Baptist—sometimes made persimmon beer and cooled it in the cistern. —Jim W. Corder, Chronicle of a Small Town, 1989
- He was foreman at Lyman's North End foundry, the largest stove-making foundry in the city, and had risen in eleven years, despite his lung ailment, from apprentice to moulder to chief grievance spokesman, a voice of righteous reason from below. —William Kennedy, Harper's , March 1988
- The Believers tried to lead a simple, righteous life, practicing pacifism and confession of sins and recognizing the equality of all humankind. —Robert P. Emlen, Natural History, September 1987
- [+]more
Origin of RIGHTEOUS
alteration of earlier rightuous, alteration of Middle English rightwise, rightwos, from Old English rihtwīs, from riht, noun, right + wīs wise
Related to RIGHTEOUS
Synonym Discussion of RIGHTEOUS
moral, ethical, virtuous, righteous, noble mean conforming to a standard of what is right and good. moral implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong <the basic moral values of a community>. ethical may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity <committed to the highest ethical principles>. virtuous implies moral excellence in character <not a religious person, but virtuous nevertheless>. righteous stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious <wished to be righteous before God and the world>. noble implies moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean, or dubious in conduct and character <had the noblest of reasons for seeking office>.
Other Religion (Eastern and Other) Terms
RIGHTEOUSNESS Defined for Kids
righteous
adjective righ·teous \ˈrī-chəs\
Definition of RIGHTEOUS for Kids
1
: doing or being what is just or proper <righteous people> <a righteous action>
2
: caused by an insult to what is believed to be just or proper <righteous anger>
— righ·teous·ly adverb <righteously angry>
— righ·teous·ness noun
Learn More About RIGHTEOUS
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: right facePrevious Word in the Dictionary: rightenAll Words Near: righteous
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up righteous? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).