rectitude

[ rek-ti-tood, -tyood ]

noun

1. rightness of principle or conduct; moral virtue:

   the rectitude of her motives.

   Synonyms: principle, probity, integrity

2. correctness:

   rectitude of judgment.

3. straightness.

rectitude

/ ˈrɛktɪˌtjuːd /

noun

1. moral or religious correctness
2. correctness of judgment

Word History and Origins

Origin of rectitude¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French rectitude, “honesty,” from Late Latin rēctitūdin- (stem of rēctitūdō “straightness, upright posture, honesty, justice”), equivalent to Latin rēct(us) right + -tūdin- -tude

Word History and Origins

Origin of rectitude¹

C15: from Late Latin rectitūdō , from Latin rectus right, straight, from regere to rule

Example Sentences

The conservative justices are so in love with their own voices and so convinced of their own rectitude that they monologued about how improper it was for Dreeben to keep talking about the facts of this case, as opposed to the “abstract” principles at play.

From Slate

Burnham's smug sense of rectitude gets her superior officer killed.

From Salon

Germany’s budget crisis has given new momentum to reforming self-imposed borrowing limits even among the opposition conservatives, as hunger for sorely needed investment trumps an earlier political obsession with fiscal rectitude.

From Reuters

Germany’s budget crisis has given new momentum to reforming self-imposed borrowing limits even among the opposition conservatives, as hunger for sorely needed investment trumps an earlier political obsession with fiscal rectitude.

From Reuters

It was superb theatre, with the added benefit of moral rectitude.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• decency
• honesty
• integrity
• morality
• probity
• righteousness