# pious

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈpaɪəs/ · frequency rank #19,417

## Definitions
1. Of or pertaining to piety, exhibiting piety, devout, god-fearing.
2. Relating to religion or religious works.
3. Insisting on or making a show of one's own virtue, especially in comparison to others; sanctimonious, condescending, judgmental.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *pewH-
Proto-Italic *pwījosder.
Latin piusbor.
English pious
Borrowed from Latin pīus (“pious, dutiful, blessed, kind, devout”), from Proto-Indo-European *pewH- (“pure”). Cognate with Old English fǣle (“faithful, trusty, good; dear, beloved”). More at feal.

## Easily confused with
- **pos** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pious-vs-pos)
- **pus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pious-vs-pus)
- **plus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pious-vs-plus)
- **piss** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pious-vs-piss)
- **pour** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pious-vs-pour)
- **pops** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pious-vs-pops)
- **pros** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pious-vs-pros)
- **pots** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pious-vs-pots)
- **pits** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pious-vs-pits)
- **pods** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pious-vs-pods)
- **pips** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pious-vs-pips)
- **pout** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pious-vs-pout)
- **pons** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pious-vs-pons)
- **proud** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pious-vs-proud)
- **pipes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pious-vs-pipes)
- **pools** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pious-vs-pools)
- **props** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pious-vs-props)
- **POTUS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pious-vs-potus)
- **Prius** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pious-vs-prius)
- **pique** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pious-vs-pique)

## Common misspellings (6)
`ipous`, `piosu`, `piouss`, `piuos`, `poius`, `ppious`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/pious