adj
Uncommon
pious
PEYE-uhs
Pious (adj) means Deeply religious or devout. Example: “Her pious grandmother attended church every morning.”
adj
1
Deeply religious or devout.
"Her pious grandmother attended church every morning."
2
Making an exaggerated show of virtue or morality, often in a way that feels self-righteous.
"He gave a pious little speech about honesty while cheating on the test himself."
How to use pious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSincerely religious — or, used critically, someone acting morally superior.
Common mistake
Be careful with tone: calling someone "pious" can be a neutral compliment about faith or a subtle insult about hypocrisy, depending on context.
Common pairings
pious hope
pious platitude
devoutly pious
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like pious.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more pious
- Superlative
- most pious
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her _____ grandmother attended church every morning.
Etymology
From Latin pius, "dutiful, devout, kind," related to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "pure."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for pious
See all rhymes for pious →Frequently asked questions
What does “pious” mean?
The word “pious” means deeply religious or devout. In plain terms, sincerely religious — or, used critically, someone acting morally superior.
How do you pronounce “pious”?
“Pious” is pronounced PEYE-uhs (/ˈpaɪəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “pious” in a sentence?
Here is “pious” used in a sentence: “Her pious grandmother attended church every morning.”
What part of speech is “pious”?
“Pious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “pious” come from?
The word “pious” comes from Latin. From Latin pius, "dutiful, devout, kind," related to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "pure.".
Is “pious” a common word?
“Pious” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “pious” have?
“Pious” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: deeply religious or devout.
