Rectitude means moral uprightness, or doing what's right according to strong principles. Someone with rectitude consistently chooses honesty and fairness, even when it's difficult or no one is watching.

Think of a student who finds a wallet full of money in the hallway. Rectitude means turning it in to the office immediately, not because they fear getting caught, but because keeping it would be wrong. Or imagine a referee who makes an unpopular call that costs her own school's team the game, but it was the correct call according to the rules. That's rectitude: letting principles guide your actions rather than convenience or personal benefit.

The word has a formal, serious quality. You might describe a judge known for fairness as having great rectitude, or admire a historical figure's moral rectitude. It's stronger than just “being good.” Rectitude suggests an unwavering commitment to doing right, a kind of moral backbone that doesn't bend when circumstances change.

People with rectitude earn deep trust because others know they'll act with integrity whether it benefits them or not. While the word sounds old-fashioned, the quality it describes never goes out of style.