righteous
Americanadjective
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characterized by uprightness or morality.
a righteous observance of the law.
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morally right or justifiable.
righteous indignation.
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acting in an upright, moral way; virtuous.
a righteous and godly person.
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Slang. absolutely genuine or wonderful.
some righteous playing by a jazz great.
noun
adjective
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characterized by, proceeding from, or in accordance with accepted standards of morality, justice, or uprightness; virtuous
a righteous man
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( as collective noun ; preceded by the )
the righteous
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morally justifiable or right, esp from one's own point of view
righteous indignation
Usage
What does righteous mean? Righteous is an adjective that means virtuous, honorable, or morally right.Being righteous means doing what is right—obeying the law or adhering to morals. It is often used in a religious context.Example: It’s not easy to engage in righteous behavior—in fact, if an action is difficult to take, it’s probably right!
Other Word Forms
- overrighteous adjective
- overrighteously adverb
- overrighteousness noun
- prerighteous adjective
- prerighteously adverb
- prerighteousness noun
- quasi-righteous adjective
- quasi-righteously adverb
- righteously adverb
- righteousness noun
- superrighteous adjective
- superrighteously adverb
- superrighteousness noun
Etymology
Origin of righteous
First recorded before 900; earlier rightwos, rightwis (remodeled with -ous ), Middle English; Old English rihtwīs; right, wise 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"It was in that moment that I knew I was not righteous anymore, and I knew I needed saving," he says.
From BBC
We are righteous: truth, justice and the American way.
From Salon
In my view, there’s no contradiction because wearing ashes in public, unlike righteous acts of giving alms, fasting and praying in public, is a sign that we are sinners and in need of repentance.
“It undercuts your credibility in saying that we believe in the facts and the law and bringing righteous cases.”
From Los Angeles Times
But the performer’s most devoted fans understand that the entire set wrapped righteous critiques in a street carnival.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
