rectitude
/'rektitju:d/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- Moral uprightness; righteousness: The quality of being honest, morally correct, and virtuous in one's principles and actions.
- Correctness of judgment or procedure: Adherence to correct principles or standards of conduct.
Usage
- Rectitude is an uncountable noun used in formal contexts to describe a person's strong moral character or the correctness of a process.
- It is often used with possessive determiners (e.g., , ) or prepositions like (e.g., ).
Examples
- The judge was known for her unwavering rectitude and fairness.
- He conducted his business with such rectitude that he was admired by all.
- The committee's decision was questioned, despite its procedural rectitude.
- Her personal rectitude was never in doubt, even by her political opponents.
Advanced Usage
- Rectitude of intention/purpose: Acting with morally correct aims.
- He pursued the project with a rectitude of purpose that inspired his team.
- Moral rectitude: A common collocation emphasizing ethical correctness.
- The scandal damaged the politician's reputation for moral rectitude.
Variants and Related Words
- Rectitudinous (adjective): Characterized by or exhibiting rectitude. (Formal and rare)
- He was a rectitudinous leader who never compromised his values.
Synonyms
- Integrity: The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
- Probity: The quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency.
- Uprightness: The condition or quality of being morally correct and honest.
- Righteousness: The quality of being morally right or justifiable.
Antonyms
- Dishonesty: A lack of honesty or integrity.
- Corruption: Dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power.
- Depravity: Moral corruption; wickedness.
Notes
- Rectitude is a formal term. In everyday conversation, words like or are more common.
- It often implies a strict, sometimes inflexible, adherence to moral codes.
Noun
- righteousness as a consequence of being honorable and honest