What does worthiness mean?
Worthiness is a formal noun meaning the quality of deserving praise, respect, trust, or moral approval. It can describe a person’s character, as when someone is praised for integrity or seriousness, and it can also refer to the merit or appropriateness of a cause, principle, proposal, or action. The word is more evaluative and morally weighted than simply “worth,” which can concern monetary value, usefulness, importance, or what something is valued at. In phrases such as “the worthiness of the cause,” worthiness suggests that the cause deserves support or admiration, while “moral worthiness” emphasizes ethical character. It is a somewhat elevated term rather than everyday vocabulary, and it is especially common in formal discussion, historical writing, and institutional or religious contexts. Its usefulness lies in distinguishing what is valuable in practical terms from what is worthy in principle: a project may have economic value, yet its worthiness determines whether its goals deserve approval.
nounThe quality of being worthy, especially of deserving praise, trust, or moral approval; the merit or appropriateness of a person, thing, or cause.
- The quality of deserving praise, trust, respect, or moral approval.
- The merit or appropriateness of a person, thing, principle, or cause.
"The committee considered the worthiness of the proposal before deciding whether to fund it."
"Her quiet worthiness earned the respect of colleagues who had underestimated her."
"Few questioned the worthiness of supporting the campaign against the policy."
Rare. Worthiness is normally used as an uncountable noun; the plural is occasionally used when separate instances or kinds of worthiness are being discussed.
"The authors compared the different worthinesses of the traditions they studied."
Worthiness is worth’s moral question: not simply what something is valued at, but whether it deserves to be valued.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does worthiness come from?
Worthiness was formed in English by adding the suffix “-ness” to “worthy,” a word derived from “worth.” “Worth” comes from Old English “weorþ,” meaning value or price, while “-ness” is an Old English-derived suffix that forms abstract nouns denoting a quality or state. The resulting noun preserves the idea of a quality: being worthy is being of such value or character as to deserve recognition or trust.
How worthiness is actually used
Generally formal and abstract. It often suggests moral character or the deservingness of a cause, rather than financial value or practical usefulness.
Easily confused with worthiness
Worth refers to value, importance, or what something is worth in a practical or financial sense, while worthiness refers more specifically to the quality of deserving respect, praise, trust, or moral approval.