goodygoody

Goodygoody is a term in English used to describe a person who is perceived as excessively virtuous or well-behaved. The spelling goody-goody or goodygoody is common; the form is a reduplication of goody, a diminutive form of good, intensifying the sense of excessive goodness. The term can function as an adjective (goody-goody behavior) or as a noun (a goody-goody). In usage, it is often pejorative or humorous, implying insincerity or moral superiority, though it can also be used affectionately in informal contexts, especially among friends or family.

In cultural usage, goodygoody has appeared in literature, film, and music as a label for chaste or rule-following characters. It is closely related to goody-goody two-shoes or the phrase goody-two-shoes, which likewise denotes someone who practices extreme virtue. The connotation may vary by tone, context, and speaker, ranging from light teasing to outright criticism. In modern online discourse, goodygoody can describe behavior that is performative or crafted to project virtue, sometimes in discussions of ethics, behavior norms, or social media personas.

Spelling variations include goody-goody, goody goody, or goodygoody; in many contexts, the unhyphenated form is common in informal writing. The term remains a recognizable shorthand for a particular stereotype of moral scrupulosity, even as its usage shifts with language trends.