Dictionary

righteousness en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈɹaɪt͡ʃəsnəs/

Etymology

From earlier rightwiseness, from Middle English rightwisnes, from Old English rihtwīsnes (“justice”), equivalent to righteous + -ness.

Meanings

1. (uncountable) The quality or state of being righteous.
   • But in these days of fanaticism, that harsh and violent spirit is abroad, when men clothe their own angry passions in the garb of righteousness, and call persecution vindicating the honour of God. 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter IV, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 45:
2. (uncountable) Holiness; conformity of life to the divine law.
   • 21 ¶ I hate, I despise your feast dayes, and I will not smell in your solemne assemblies. 22 Though ye offer me burnt offerings, and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. 23 Take thou away from mee the noise of thy songs: for I will not heare the melodie of thy violes. 24 But let iudgement run downe as waters, and righteousnesse as a mightie streame. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Amos 5:21–24:
   • By some paradoxical evolution rancour and intolerance have been established in the vanguard of primitive Christianity. Mrs. Spoker, in common with many of the stricter disciples of righteousness, was as inclement in demeanour as she was cadaverous in aspect. 1921, Ben Travers, chapter 4, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:
3. (archaic, countable) A righteous act or quality.
   • All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 44:6:
4. (countable, uncountable) The behaviour of someone who is righteous.
   • Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth rightness at all times. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 106:3:
5. (countable, uncountable) The state of being right with God; justification; the work of Christ, which is the ground justification.
   • Only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone. 1646-7, Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q.33
   • There are two kinds of Christian righteousness: the one without us, which we have by imputation; the other in us, which consisteth of faith, hope, and charity, and other Christian virtues. 1594-7, Richard Hooker, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, A Discourse, Section 21

Forms

Deriveds

works righteousness · self-righteousness · unrighteousness · uprighteousness · overrighteousness · original righteousness

Synonyms

propriety · honesty · honor · angelicality · integrity · seemliness · integrity · uprightness · uprightness · righteousness · honesty · rightfulness · rightfulness · probity · justice · godliness · decency · equity · angelicity · saintliness · saintlikeness · rectitude · rectitude · godliness · faithfulness · angelicness · angelicalness · holiness · virtuousness · seemlihood

Translations (52)

es honradez (quality or state of being righteous) · zdj uâdilifu (quality or state of being righteous) · pt moralidade (righteous act, or righteous quality) · bg справедливост (quality or state of being righteous) · nb rettferdighet (quality or state of being righteous) · he צדק (quality or state of being righteous) · pt retidão (quality or state of being righteous) · sv rättfärdighet (quality or state of being righteous) · got 𐌲𐌰𐍂𐌰𐌹𐌷𐍄𐌴𐌹 (quality or state of being righteous) · eo justeco (quality or state of being righteous) · cmn 公義 /公义 (quality or state of being righteous) · pl świętość (theology: state of being right with God) · it rettitudine (quality or state of being righteous) · de Rechtschaffenheit (quality or state of being righteous) · ga cirte (quality or state of being righteous) · es rectitud (quality or state of being righteous) · fi oikeamielisyys (quality or state of being righteous) · pl czystość (theology: state of being right with God) · fi vanhurskas teko (righteous act, or righteous quality) · fi vanhurskaus (righteous act, or righteous quality) · es buena obra (righteous act, or righteous quality) · pt moralidade (quality or state of being righteous) · es moralidad (quality or state of being righteous) · de Tugendhaftigkeit (quality or state of being righteous) · es rectitud (righteous act, or righteous quality) · kk әділеттілік (quality or state of being righteous) · fi vanhurskaus (theology: state of being right with God) · pl łaska (theology: state of being right with God) · es gracia (theology: state of being right with God) · pl prawość (theology: state of being right with God) · txb pelaikne (quality or state of being righteous) · mid ࡆࡉࡃࡒࡀ (quality or state of being righteous) · es santidad (theology: state of being right with God) · pl prawość (quality or state of being righteous) · ru доброде́тельность (theology: state of being right with God) · sh пра̀ведно̄ст (quality or state of being righteous) · fi vanhurskaus (quality or state of being righteous) · es pureza (theology: state of being right with God) · fr justice (quality or state of being righteous) · ga fíréantacht (theology: state of being right with God) · hu tisztesség (quality or state of being righteous) · de Gerechtigkeit (quality or state of being righteous) · ga fíréantacht (quality or state of being righteous) · ga ionracas (quality or state of being righteous) · udm шонерлык (theology: state of being right with God) · ru пра́ведность (theology: state of being right with God) · sh pràvednōst (quality or state of being righteous) · kk әділдік (quality or state of being righteous) · bg праведност (theology: state of being right with God) · grc δικαιοσύνη (quality or state of being righteous) · es beatitud (theology: state of being right with God) · ru справедли́вость (quality or state of being righteous)