What does unrighteousness mean?
Unrighteousness is a formal noun meaning moral wickedness—the character or conduct of someone who acts unjustly, dishonestly, or contrary to recognized moral or religious standards. The word is strongly evaluative and is especially familiar in biblical and religious English, where it can refer directly to sinfulness or opposition to God's commands. In broader literary or political discussion, it may characterize entrenched injustice, corruption, or the moral defects of a society. Unlike most count nouns, unrighteousness is normally used as an uncountable mass noun; plural forms are not standard. The term is more severe and overtly moral than wrongdoing, which can describe a single act or merely wrong conduct. It also contrasts directly with righteousness, a word sharing its core Germanic sense of moral rightness. While uncommon in ordinary conversation, unrighteousness remains useful in formal prose when a speaker intends to condemn persistent wrongdoing rather than describe an isolated mistake.
nounThe quality or condition of being unrighteous; moral wickedness, injustice, or wrongdoing.
- The quality or condition of being unrighteous, especially persistent moral wickedness, injustice, or sinfulness.
"The sermon condemned the unrighteousness that had taken root within the community."
"The prophet denounced the rulers for allowing unrighteousness to flourish among the poor."
"Education reform alone cannot remedy the deeper unrighteousness embedded in a corrupt institution."
Unrighteousness is normally an uncountable mass noun, so it does not have a standard plural form in ordinary usage.
"The speech condemned unrighteousness wherever it had taken root."
Its biblical afterlife overshadows its everyday use: “wrongdoing” may sound neutral, but “unrighteousness” announces moral judgment from the start.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of unrighteousness
Unrighteousness was formed in English by combining the negative prefix un- with righteousness. Righteousness combines Old English riht, meaning “right,” “just,” or “straight,” with wīs, meaning “wise,” and the suffix -ness; the related adjective righteous follows the same base. The Germanic right- element is also reflected in forms such as German recht and Dutch recht, while the family's sense of moral correctness became especially prominent in Christian English.
How unrighteousness is actually used
A formal, strongly moral and religious term, especially familiar from biblical English. It is less neutral than “wrongdoing” and often implies sinfulness or opposition to divine law.
Easily confused with unrighteousness
Righteousness means moral uprightness or conduct that is just and proper, whereas unrighteousness means moral wickedness or injustice.
Unrighteous is an adjective describing something or someone as unjust or morally wrong, while unrighteousness is a noun naming the quality or condition of wrongdoing.