# righteous

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈɹaɪt͡ʃəs/ · frequency rank #9,663

## Definitions
1. Free from sin or guilt.
2. Moral and virtuous, perhaps to the point of sanctimony.
3. Justified morally.
4. Awesome; great.
5. Major; large; significant.

## Etymology
From earlier rightuous, rightwose, rightwos, rightwise, from Middle English rightwise, rightwis, from Old English rihtwīs (“righteous, just”), corresponding to right + -wise (with assimilation of second element to -ous), or to right + wise (“way, manner”). Cognate with Scots richtwis (“righteous”), Old High German rehtwīsic (“righteous, just”), Icelandic réttvíss (“righteous, just”). Compare also thefteous, mighteous.

## Common misspellings (13)
`irghteous`, `rgihteous`, `rigghteous`, `righetous`, `righhteous`, `righteosu`, `righteouss`, `righteuos`, `rightoeus`, `rightteous`, `rigtheous`, `rihgteous`, `rrighteous`

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