adj
Common
righteous
RYT-shuhs
Righteous (adj) means Morally right or virtuous; acting justly. Example: “She lived a righteous life devoted to helping others.”
adj
1
Morally right or virtuous; acting justly.
"She lived a righteous life devoted to helping others."
"He was a righteous judge who always treated rich and poor fairly."
"The villagers admired her righteous courage in speaking out against injustice."
2
Often used disapprovingly to describe someone who is self-righteously convinced of their own moral superiority.
"His righteous tone during the argument annoyed everyone."
"Stop being so righteous, because you make mistakes just like the rest of us."
"She gave me a righteous lecture about recycling while holding a plastic bottle."
How to use righteous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMorally good and just — though often used pointedly for someone acting a little too pleased with their own virtue.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "righteous indignation," which specifically means justified anger, not general moral goodness.
Common pairings
righteous anger
righteous cause
self-righteous
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- righteouses
- Past tense
- righteoused
- Comparative
- more righteous
- Superlative
- most righteous
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She lived a _____ life devoted to helping others.
Etymology
From Old English rihtwīs, a blend of right and wise ("manner"), later reshaped to end in -eous like other moral adjectives.
Related words
Rhymes for righteous
See all rhymes for righteous →Frequently asked questions
What does “righteous” mean?
The word “righteous” means morally right or virtuous; acting justly. In plain terms, morally good and just — though often used pointedly for someone acting a little too pleased with their own virtue.
How do you pronounce “righteous”?
“Righteous” is pronounced RYT-shuhs (/ˈɹaɪt͡ʃəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “righteous” in a sentence?
Here is “righteous” used in a sentence: “She lived a righteous life devoted to helping others.”
What part of speech is “righteous”?
“Righteous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “righteous” come from?
The word “righteous” comes from Old English. From Old English rihtwīs, a blend of right and wise ("manner"), later reshaped to end in -eous like other moral adjectives.
Is “righteous” a common word?
“Righteous” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “righteous” have?
“Righteous” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: morally right or virtuous; acting justly.
What is the difference between righteous and self-righteous?
Righteous describes someone or something that is morally right or virtuous, acting justly. Self-righteous, a related but disapproving use of righteous, describes someone who is smugly convinced of their own moral superiority, often unfairly judging others.
Is "righteous" always a positive word?
Not always. While its core meaning of being morally right or virtuous is positive, righteous is often used disapprovingly to describe someone who acts as though they are morally superior to others.
What is a "righteous anger"?
A righteous anger is anger that is considered morally justified, arising from a genuine sense of injustice rather than petty irritation. The phrase draws on the positive sense of righteous as acting justly.
