Godliness

n.kind, thoughtfulformal

What it means

Devotion to God expressed through religious belief and morally disciplined conduct.

Reach for it when naming a virtue within a tradition that uses God-centered language

For the community, godliness included hospitality to strangers.

warm
reverence
deep respect for the divine is the specific attitude
not when Reverence is a feeling or manner, not a whole pattern of conduct.
professional
devoutness
sincere commitment to religious practice needs a neutral label
not when Devoutness measures commitment, not whether conduct is morally admirable.
formal
holiness
sacred purity or dedication to divine service is meant
not when Holiness is a stronger theological status than ordinary godliness.
formal
piety
reverent religious practice is the central quality
not when Outward or conventional piety cannot establish ethical conduct.
formal
righteousness
acting rightly according to moral or religious law is central
not when Righteousness can sound self-congratulatory and may not imply worship.
literary
sanctity
sacredness or inviolability deserves emphasis
not when Sanctity applies to places, principles, and life as well as personal character.

life of godliness
She understood a life of godliness as service rather than display.
practice godliness
The sermon asks listeners to practice godliness through honest work.
outward godliness
Outward godliness meant little without compassion.

Godliness is tradition-specific. It should not be used as a neutral measure of moral worth across different beliefs or nonbelief.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.