interjection
good riddance
good RID-uhnss
Good riddance (interjection) means Said with relief when someone or something unwanted has finally gone. Example: “He has resigned at last. Good riddance.”
interjection
1
informal Said with relief when someone or something unwanted has finally gone.
"He has resigned at last. Good riddance."
"The old shed collapsed in the storm, and good riddance to it."
noun
1
A welcome departure or removal of something unwanted.
"Losing that contract was a good riddance in the end."
How to use good riddance
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishI am glad that has gone.
When to use it
Blunt and unmistakably hostile when applied to a person, so it belongs in speech among friends rather than in professional writing.
Memory tip
The fuller form is 'good riddance to bad rubbish', which intensifies the contempt.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
farewell →
so long
Common pairings
good riddance to bad rubbish
and good riddance
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He has resigned at last. _____.
Etymology
From riddance, the act of getting rid of something, from the verb rid; the phrase is recorded in English from the sixteenth century.
Synonyms
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thank goodness that's over
Rhymes for good riddance
See all rhymes for good riddance →Frequently asked questions
Is it rude to say good riddance?
Yes, deliberately so. It tells the listener you are pleased the person or thing has gone, which makes it fine as a joke among friends but insulting if the subject can hear you or is being mourned by others.
Where does the phrase 'good riddance to bad rubbish' come from?
It is an intensified version of good riddance that developed in English speech, with rubbish standing for the unwanted thing being got rid of. The shorter good riddance is the older of the two.
What is the meaning of good riddance?
"good riddance" (interjection) means said with relief when someone or something unwanted has finally gone.
What is another word for good riddance?
Other words for "good riddance" include thank goodness that's over.
