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noun B1 Intermediate Uncommon

piety

PEYE-ih-tee

Piety (noun) means Deep devotion and respect toward God or religious duty. Example: “Her piety was evident in her daily prayers.”

noun
1
Deep devotion and respect toward God or religious duty.
"Her piety was evident in her daily prayers."
2
A conventional, often shallow statement of virtue.
"The politician's speech was full of empty pieties."

How to use piety

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishReligious devotion, or (informally) a hollow show of virtue.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "pity" (compassion for suffering) — they share a Latin root but mean different things today.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
religious piety empty piety filial piety

Word forms

pieties plural

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Fill the gap

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Her _____ was evident in her daily prayers.

Etymology

From Latin pietas, meaning devotion or dutifulness — a doublet of "pity".

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for piety

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Frequently asked questions

What does “piety” mean?

The word “piety” means deep devotion and respect toward God or religious duty. In plain terms, religious devotion, or (informally) a hollow show of virtue.

How do you pronounce “piety”?

“Piety” is pronounced PEYE-ih-tee (/ˈpaɪ̯ɪti/ in IPA).

How do you use “piety” in a sentence?

Here is “piety” used in a sentence: “Her piety was evident in her daily prayers.”

What part of speech is “piety”?

“Piety” is a noun.

Where does the word “piety” come from?

The word “piety” comes from Latin. From Latin pietas, meaning devotion or dutifulness — a doublet of "pity".

Is “piety” a common word?

“Piety” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “piety” have?

“Piety” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: deep devotion and respect toward God or religious duty.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial