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Meaning & use

godliness

noun·Advanced

Last updated

UK/ˈɡɒdlinəs/
US/ˈɡɑːdlinəs/

Meanings

  1. noununcountable

    The quality of living in a deeply religious and morally good way.

    Grammar: No plural and no 'a': 'a life of godliness', not 'a godliness'.

    Patterns

    • a life of godliness
    • true godliness
    • the godliness of someone

    His quiet godliness showed in how patiently he treated everyone.

    The poem praises simple work and honest godliness over wealth.

    She was admired for her godliness, though she never spoke about her faith.

  2. noununcountablereligionformal

    A way of life that follows religious rules and values, especially in personal conduct.

    Grammar: Often used in religious teaching and set phrases about training or discipline.

    Patterns

    • godliness and virtue
    • train someone in godliness
    • the pursuit of godliness

    The letter urges believers to pursue godliness in daily habits.

    Monks saw manual labor as a path to godliness.

    Their community valued godliness more than scholarship.

Common combinations

a life of godliness
The biography describes a long life of godliness and service.
true godliness
In his view, true godliness begins with kindness at home.
godliness and virtue
Old sermons often pair godliness and virtue as twin goals.
the pursuit of godliness
The retreat is dedicated to the pursuit of godliness.
quiet godliness
Her quiet godliness impressed everyone who met her.

Synonyms and how they differ

piety
Piety stresses outward religious devotion and duty; godliness suggests a whole moral character, not just practices.
devoutness
Devoutness means being sincerely religious; godliness adds the idea of good moral living.
holiness
Holiness is stronger and often reserved for sacred things or people; godliness is a human quality.
righteousness
Righteousness focuses on doing what is morally right; godliness ties that conduct to faith in God.

Opposites

wickednesssinfulnessungodliness

Word family

godly adjective
Living in a religious and morally good way.
godless adjective
Not believing in God or showing no religious respect.
ungodly adjective
Not respectful of God; informally, unreasonably extreme, as in 'an ungodly hour'.

Commonly confused: godliness or godlike? godliness or holiness?

godliness vs godlike

Godlike means having the qualities of a god, such as great power or beauty; godliness means personal religious and moral goodness.

godliness vs holiness

Holiness can describe sacred objects or God himself, while godliness usually describes how a person lives.

Practice

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