Pious
/ˈpaɪəs/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Pious means having or showing a deep respect for religion or strong moral beliefs. A pious person often prays, follows religious rules, and tries to live in a way that matches their faith. Sometimes, it can also mean acting very religious in a way that others notice.
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See It in Action
Showing strong religious respect or devotion
- •She is very pious and goes to church every day.
- •The pious man always helps others because of his faith.
- •They live a pious life, following all the religious rules carefully.
Sometimes used to describe someone acting very religious, possibly more than necessary
- •His pious words sometimes seem too formal or strict.
- •She gave a pious speech about kindness and faith.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'pious' like 'good' or 'kind,' but specifically about being very respectful and serious about religion or moral rules.
- ✓Picture someone quietly praying in a church or temple, showing calm and respect.
- ✓It's the feeling of being very careful to do what your religion or beliefs say is right.
- ✓Sounds like 'PIE-us' → imagine someone eating a pie quietly in church, showing respect by being calm and careful.
- ✓Think of characters in stories who always follow religious rules and help others because of their faith.
- ✓NOT like 'happy' (a feeling), pious is about actions and respect connected to religion.
- ✓NOT like 'fake' or 'pretending' — pious means sincere respect, not just acting.
- ✓NOT like 'wild' or 'careless' — pious people are careful and serious.
Try Other Words
- •Devout: deeply religious and sincere (Use when you want to emphasize strong, sincere faith)
- •Faithful: loyal to religious beliefs or a person (Use when focusing on loyalty or trust in religion)
- •Holy: connected with God or religion (Use when emphasizing sacred or spiritual quality)
Unboxing
- •"pious" comes from Latin "pius," meaning dutiful or respectful, especially toward the gods.
- •From Latin, used in English since the 1400s to describe religious respect.
- •Originally meant dutiful or loyal, especially in religion; over time, focused more on religious devotion.
- •Used to describe people who show strong religious respect or moral seriousness; sometimes used critically to mean overly strict or formal.
Reflect & Connect
•How do you think being pious affects the way a person lives every day?
•Can someone be pious without belonging to a specific religion? How?
Fill in the blanks
1.A pious person often ___ to show respect for their faith.
2.People who are pious usually follow religious ___ carefully.
3.Unlike someone who is just kind, a pious person shows ___ through their religious actions.
4.When someone speaks in a pious way, they may sound ___ or very serious.
5.If a person is not pious, they might ___ the religious rules or not care much about them.
6.A pious person often feels a strong ___ to do what their religion teaches.
7.In stories, a pious character often ___ others because of their faith.