rectitude

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rectitude

/ˈɹɛk.tɪ.tjuːd/ UK
/ˈɹɛk.tə.tjuːd/ UK
/ˈɹɛk.tə.tuːd/ US
/ˈɹɛk.tə.tjuːd/ US

Where it comes from

From Middle English rectitude, from Middle French rectitude, from Late Latin rectitūdō (“straightness, uprightness”), from Latin rectus (“straight”), perfect passive participle of regō (“regulate, guide”).

noun rectitudes

countable, uncountable Straightness; the state or quality of having a constant direction and not being crooked or bent.
Similar: rectilinearity, straightness
archaic, countable, uncountable The fact or quality of being right or correct; correctness of opinion or judgement. A consciousness of rectitude can be a terrible thing, and in those days I didn't just think that I was right: I thought that “we” (our group of International Socialists in particular) were being damn well proved right.
countable, uncountable Conformity to the rules prescribed for moral conduct; (moral) uprightness, virtue. We, therefore, the Repreſentatives of the united States of America, in General Congreſs, Aſsembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of theſe Colonies, ſolemnly publiſh and declare, That theſe United
Similar: honesty, integrity, morality, angelicality, angelicalness, angelicity, angelicness, decency, godliness, honor, probity, propriety

Translations

Every language

noun rightness of principle or practice

Español	rectitud, derechura
हिन्दी	नायकी nāykī, नाइकी nāikī
Português	retidão
Français	rectitude, droiture, rigueur
Italiano	rettitudine, dirittura
Română	rectitudine, echitate, rigoare
Русский	правота́ pravotá, пра́вильность právilʹnostʹ

noun straightness; state or quality of having a constant direction

Español	rectitud
हिन्दी	पाकबाजी pākbājī, दुरुस्ती durustī
Français	rectitude
Italiano	rettitudine, dirittura
Română	rectitudine
Русский	прямота́ prjamotá

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MLA

"rectitude." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/rectitude. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

rectitude. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/rectitude

Chicago

"rectitude." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/rectitude.

BibTeX

@misc{rectitude_2026,
  title = {rectitude},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/rectitude},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}