What does godliness mean?
Godliness is a noun meaning the quality of being godly, especially of living with moral integrity and devotion to God. Its clearest uses are religious: a sermon, hagiography, or discussion of spiritual life may describe a person's godliness as a combination of faith, ethical discipline, and devotion. The word can also carry a broader sense of exemplary moral character, though its religious associations remain strong. In contemporary argument, godliness may occasionally sound exaggerated or moralizing, especially when it is used to dismiss someone else's beliefs or present public conduct as unusually virtuous. Even so, it remains more specific than goodness and more traditionally framed than moral rectitude. The word is useful because it links moral excellence with a visible religious or spiritual dimension, making it especially appropriate for discussing how communities define and praise exemplary conduct.
nounThe quality or state of being godly, especially of living in moral purity and devotion to God. It can also refer more broadly to religious piety and devotion.
- The quality or state of being godly; moral purity and devotion to God.
"Her reputation for godliness inspired trust throughout the village."
"The sermon praised the saint's humility and godliness."
"The controversy revealed how easily godliness could be used to sound morally superior."
Rare; godliness is normally used as an uncountable noun, especially when referring to a general moral or religious quality.
"The study contrasts several godlinesses, from private devotion to public ritual."
Godliness is goodness with a religious résumé: it names virtue understood as devotion to God.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does godliness come from?
Godliness was formed in English from the adjective godly and the noun-forming suffix -ness, which creates an abstract noun naming a quality or state. Godly itself combines God with -ly, following the older English pattern of forming adjectives and adverbs from nouns. The word's development reflects the long-standing English convention of turning qualities such as holiness, kindness, and darkness into abstract nouns with -ness.
How godliness is actually used
Godliness is formal and often religious in register. It may sound solemn or old-fashioned, and in modern discussion it can sometimes suggest conspicuous or self-righteous piety, depending on context.
Easily confused with godliness
Godliness specifically suggests moral virtue connected with devotion to God, whereas goodness is a broader term for moral excellence or positive quality.
Godliness is a noun naming a quality or state, while godlike is an adjective describing someone or something as resembling or worthy of God.