rectitude
noun
rec·ti·tude ˈrek-tə-ˌtüd 
-ˌtyüd
1
: the quality or state of being straight
2
: moral integrity : righteousness
3
: the quality or state of being correct in judgment or procedure
Did you know?
The Right Definition of Rectitude
Rectitude has a righteous derivation. It comes straight from the Latin adjective rectus, which means both "right" and "straight." Rectitude itself can mean either "straightness" (an early use referred to literal straightness of lines, although this sense is now rare) or "rightness" of character. Rectus has a number of other descendants in English, including rectangle (a figure with four right angles), rectify ("to make right"), rectilinear ("moving in or forming a straight line"), and even rectus itself (a medical term for any one of several straight muscles in the body).
Synonyms
- character
- decency
- goodness
- honesty
- integrity
- morality
- probity
- righteousness
- rightness
- uprightness
- virtue
- virtuousness
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
encouraged the graduates to go on to live lives of unimpeachable rectitude and integrity has a finely honed sense of rectitude that keeps him from cheating on exams
Recent Examples on the Web And Salim, with his C-3PO rectitude as Father, makes an excellent foil. 
James Poniewozik, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2022 In his statement about the search of Mar-a-Lago, Mr. Garland appeared the very image of rectitude. WSJ, 17 Aug. 2022 Part of it was the intelligence and rectitude of his playing style. Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2022 Like the Duke of Hastings, Anthony eventually gets the Mr. Darcy treatment; his outward callousness is revealed to belie an inner softness and a misplaced ethical rectitude. Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2022 But the brazenness with which the Thomases have flouted the most reasonable expectations of judicial rectitude is without precedent. Richard Galant, CNN, 27 Mar. 2022 Growing up in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kerby suffered from scrupulosity, an obsessive compulsive disorder that focuses on moral rectitude and brings with it pathological guilt. The Salt Lake Tribune, 20 Mar. 2022 His own sense of rectitude, Flores said in 2019, shortly before his mother, Maria, died of breast cancer, had been instilled by her unwavering values. New York Times, 4 Feb. 2022 On Twitter, the suggestion that the Prime Minister’s rectitude in launching an investigation had rendered unseemly any questions about the actual events under investigation was met with scathing incredulity. Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2022 See More
James Poniewozik, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2022 In his statement about the search of Mar-a-Lago, Mr. Garland appeared the very image of rectitude. WSJ, 17 Aug. 2022 Part of it was the intelligence and rectitude of his playing style. Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2022 Like the Duke of Hastings, Anthony eventually gets the Mr. Darcy treatment; his outward callousness is revealed to belie an inner softness and a misplaced ethical rectitude. Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2022 But the brazenness with which the Thomases have flouted the most reasonable expectations of judicial rectitude is without precedent. Richard Galant, CNN, 27 Mar. 2022 Growing up in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kerby suffered from scrupulosity, an obsessive compulsive disorder that focuses on moral rectitude and brings with it pathological guilt. The Salt Lake Tribune, 20 Mar. 2022 His own sense of rectitude, Flores said in 2019, shortly before his mother, Maria, died of breast cancer, had been instilled by her unwavering values. New York Times, 4 Feb. 2022 On Twitter, the suggestion that the Prime Minister’s rectitude in launching an investigation had rendered unseemly any questions about the actual events under investigation was met with scathing incredulity. Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Middle French, from Late Latin rectitudo, from Latin rectus straight, right
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
rectitude
noun
1
as in morality
conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong encouraged the graduates to go on to live lives of unimpeachable rectitude and integrity Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- morality
- integrity
- virtue
- honesty
- goodness
- rightness
- probity
- uprightness
- virtuousness
- morals
- decency
- character
- ethics
- righteousness
- honor
- scrupulousness
- incorruptibility
- decorum
- correctness
- scrupulosity
- seemliness
- propriety
- fitness
- appropriateness
- high-mindedness
- etiquette
- right-mindedness
- irreproachability
- irreproachableness
- decorousness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- evil
- immorality
- badness
- wickedness
- villainy
- impropriety
- sin
- iniquity
- indiscretion
- evildoing
- sinfulness
- depravity
- indecorum
- perversion
- degradation
- indecency
- debauchery
- dishonesty
- degeneracy
- meanness
- unscrupulousness
- crookedness
- lowness
- vileness
- viciousness
- corruption
- underhandedness
- pervertedness
2
as in integrity
faithfulness to high moral standards has a finely honed sense of rectitude that keeps him from cheating on exams Synonyms & Similar Words
- integrity
- honesty
- honor
- probity
- morality
- uprightness
- virtue
- righteousness
- justice
- respectability
- nobility
- virtuousness
- decency
- conscientiousness
- scrupulousness
- reputability
- incorruptibility
- fairness
- blamelessness
- character
- high-mindedness
- right-mindedness
- irreproachability
- irreproachableness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- baseness
- venality
- lowness
- dishonor
- dissoluteness
- degradation
- shamelessness
- perversion
- decadence
- profligacy
- depravity
- corruption
- criminality
- corruptibility
- dissipation
- disgrace
- degeneracy
- looseness
- immorality
- corruptness
- debasement
- dishonesty
- debauchery
- blameworthiness
- unscrupulousness
- crookedness
- rascality
- unrighteousness
- meanness
- sinfulness
- villainy
- wickedness
- rottenness
- knavery
- wretchedness
- vileness
- roguishness
- disreputableness
- disgracefulness
- pervertedness
- dissipatedness
- reprehensibleness
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