Piety

/ˈpaɪ.ə.ti/

nounmediumCommonGeneral

Definitions

1

Devotion and reverence to God, religious observances, or to one's parents.

/ˈpaɪ.ə.ti/

nounpositivemedium
General

Devotion and reverence to God or a family.

Her acts of charity were seen as expressions of her piety.

💡 Simply: Piety is like having a really strong love and respect for something very important to you, like your family, your religion, or even your country. It's showing that love through your actions and the way you live.

👶 For kids: Piety is like being really, really good to your family and to God (if you believe in God). It's about being respectful and kind.

More Examples

2

The ancient temple was a place of deep piety.

3

The community's piety was reflected in their regular attendance at religious services.

4

The king's piety was evident in his generous donations to the church.

How It's Used

Religious

"The church fostered a culture of piety among its members."

Family

"He showed his piety by caring for his elderly parents."

Idioms & expressions

acts of piety

Actions that demonstrate devotion or religious reverence.

"Offering alms to the poor is considered an act of piety in many religions."

From Latin *pietas* ('dutifulness, devotion'), connected to *pius* ('pious, dutiful'), and sharing roots with words related to 'purifying' and 'being pure'.

Historically, piety was a central virtue in many cultures, often emphasized in religious texts and moral philosophies.

Memory tip

Think of 'pie' as a symbol of comfort and goodness, and 'tea' as a way to show reverence. Piety is like offering a warm pie and tea as an act of love and devotion.

piatypietepiaty

Usage

30%Spoken
70%Written