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."
"Colleen's piety led her to make sacrifices that most people would not have made."
2
A conventional, often shallow statement of virtue.
"The politician's speech was full of empty pieties."
How to use piety
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- pieties
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Her _____ was evident in her daily prayers.
Etymology
From Latin pietas, meaning devotion or dutifulness — a doublet of "pity".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
impiety
Related words
Rhymes for piety
See all rhymes for piety →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.
