Added 2 October 2026
piety
/ˈpaɪ̯ɪti/ noun
Latin root: pietās Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about piety at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Reverence and devotion to God.
Colleen's piety led her to make sacrifices that most people would not have made.
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Similar reverence to one's parents and family or to one's country.
patriotism as piety, when done right
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A devout or otherwise laudable act, thought, or statement. A platitude that may be empty or at least facile and undercommitted.
He was quick with the pieties about hard work, honest communication, active listening, and respecting others' viewpoints, but walking the walk is different from talking the talk.
Origin
From Middle English piete, borrowed from Middle French pieté, from Latin pietās. See also the doublets pietà and pity. By surface analysis, pious + -ety.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)