pious
gb/pˈaɪəs/ us/pˈaɪəs/
B2
English
~ 3700
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
Deeply religious or devout
Loving and following your religion very much.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is pious
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'pious' with 'holy'. 'Holy' often refers to something sacred or divine, while 'pious' describes a person’s behavior or attitude toward religion.
Synonyms
devout (Implies sincere and serious religious commitment.)
Antonyms
irreligious (Describes someone who does not follow or care about religion.)
Collocations
pious believer
|pious family
|pious man
|pious woman
|pious life
Themes
religion
|values
|character
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She was known as a pious woman who attended church every day.
- Many pious people gather at the temple during the festival.
- He lived a pious life dedicated to helping the poor.
- The pious monk spent hours each day in prayer.
- They were raised in a pious household with strict moral values.
Learner examples
- My grandmother is a very pious woman.
- He is pious and goes to church every Sunday.
- The pious man prays every morning.
- They come from a pious family.
- She lives a pious life.
adjective
C1
property
2
Falsely or overly moralistic
Acting like you are very good or religious, but not really meaning it.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is pious
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'pious' always means sincere religious devotion. In some contexts, it can mean fake or over-the-top morality.
Synonyms
sanctimonious (Often used to criticize someone who makes a show of being morally superior.)
Antonyms
genuine (Describes someone whose moral or religious behavior is sincere.)
Collocations
pious attitude
|pious tone
|pious words
|pious hypocrisy
Themes
character
|values
|religion
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He gave a pious speech about honesty, but everyone knew he cheated on his taxes.
- She wore a pious smile while criticizing her coworkers.
- The politician's pious remarks were met with skepticism.
- His pious tone made others feel uncomfortable.
- They saw through his pious display of charity.
Learner examples
- He talks in a pious way, but he is not honest.
- The man made a pious speech, but he lied later.
- Her pious smile was not real.
- He said pious words, but he did not mean them.
- They did not believe his pious story.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pious
IPA
GB/pˈaɪəs/
US/pˈaɪəs/
Syllables & stress
pi - ous (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pi)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: pious
Word family
Core family
piety
noun C1
piously
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
impious
adjective
impiety
noun
Expressions
pious fraud
1/pˈaɪəs fɹˈɔd/
fixed phrase
Deception for a good cause
A lie or trick done because someone thinks it will help people or do good.
Examples
- The story about the miracle was later revealed as a pious fraud meant to inspire faith.
- Some consider the legend to be a pious fraud created to encourage moral behavior.
pious hope
1/pˈaɪəs hˈoʊp/
fixed phrase
Hope for something improbable
A wish or hope for something that is very unlikely to happen.
Examples
- It’s a pious hope that the two countries will agree so quickly.
- Some think world peace is just a pious hope.