Piety is strong religious belief, or behaviour that is religious or morally correct.
Synonyms: holiness, duty, faith, religion More Synonyms of piety
piety in British English
(ˈpaɪɪtɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-ties
1.
dutiful devotion to God and observance of religious principles
2.
the quality or characteristic of being pious
3.
a pious action, saying, etc
4. rare
devotion and obedience to parents or superiors
Word origin
C13 piete, from Old French, from Latin pietās piety, dutifulness, from piuspious
piety in American English
(ˈpaɪəti)
nounWord forms: pluralˈpieties
1.
devotion to religious duties and practices
2.
loyalty and devotion to parents, family, etc.
3.
a pious act, statement, belief, etc.
Word origin
OFr pieté < LL(Ec) pietas, duty to God < L, dutiful conduct, scrupulousness < pius: see pious
Examples of 'piety' in a sentence
piety
Ironically, the groups were founded to promote religious study and piety.
The Sun (2006)
We can't love him with just our personal piety or prayer.
Christianity Today (2000)
The idea that the colour and exuberance of the churches added something to devotion or piety faded'.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
Its evangelicalism encouraged personal piety but not social reform and gave only limited attention to building the kind of personal character that made for commercial success.
Divine, Robert A. (editor) & Breen, T. H & Frederickson, George M & Williams, R. Hal America Past and Present (1995)
Under the doctrine of religious liberty, an exceptionally wide sphere of personal piety and voluntary social action was left to the churches.
Greeley, Andrew M. Sociology and Religion: A Collection of Readings (1995)
There is hope to be had in the clear evidence that the observance of the convert can take the form of personal piety rather than politicised religion.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
A mix of incomplete memories, of sublime glamour tinged with nostalgia and some religious piety thrown in for good luck.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But wearing a hair shirt was not considered masochistic in the 16th century, nor was personal piety at odds with public prestige.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It seems more plausible to suggest, as this volume does, that religious piety provided access to power for ambitious members of the oppressed gender.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
In other languages
piety
British English: piety NOUN
Piety is strong religious belief, or behaviour that is religious or morally correct.
Known for her piety, she would walk miles to attend communion services in the neighbouring villages.
American English: piety
Brazilian Portuguese: piedade
Chinese: 虔诚
European Spanish: piedad
French: piété
German: Frömmigkeit
Italian: devozione
Japanese: 敬虔
Korean: 신앙심
European Portuguese: piedade
Latin American Spanish: piedad
(noun)
Definition
dutiful devotion to God and observance of religious principles
a woman later to be canonized for her piety
Synonyms
holiness
We were immediately struck with this city's holiness.
duty
faith
religion
grace
devotion
He was kneeling by his bed in an attitude of devotion.
reverence
in mutual support and reverence for the dead
sanctity
veneration
godliness
devoutness
dutifulness
piousness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of devotion
Definition
religious zeal
He was kneeling by his bed in an attitude of devotion.