Pious

/ˈpaɪ.əs/

Meaning & Definition

adjective

Devoutly religious or displaying a strong adherence to religious practices.

Her pious nature was evident in her daily prayers and acts of charity.

Exhibiting a hypocritical display of virtue or morality.

He made pious statements about helping the poor, but his actions showed otherwise.

Middle English, from Old French 'pieux', from Latin 'pius'.

pious hope

A hope that is overly idealistic or unrealistic.

pious wish

A desire that stems from a religious or moral belief.

pious fraud

An act of deception that is justified by a presumed moral purpose.

devotion

The quality of being dedicated to a cause or purpose.

sanctity

The state or quality of being holy, sacred, or valuable.

religiosity

Excessively religious or having a strong religious sentiment.

Goody-two-shoes

She's always playing the pious goody-two-shoes in class.

Holier-than-thou

His pious attitude gave off a holier-than-thou vibe.