In a moral context, good means desirable or beneficial; the opposite of bad. It may also refer to something of high quality or standard: A good report; a good school; a good book. It is also often used to express approval or praise: He’s such a good singer; I think she did a good job.

A number of philosophers have developed theories of the good. These vary in their focus. Some have emphasized a naturalistic view of the good, with the idea that some things are naturally ‘good’ or ‘bad’, depending on how they are treated. Others have taken a more metaphysical view, with the idea that the good is something that transcends and subsumes all facts and values: Aristotle, for example, believed that what makes an action ‘good’ is that it is based on love. Others, such as Jeremy Bentham and Franz Brentano, have developed an analysis of the good that aims to be halfway between Moore’s naturalism and pure idealism.

The notion of what it is to be a ‘good person’ has been the subject of much philosophical debate, with various cultures and belief systems having different ideas about what is a ‘good’ person. Some of these include empathy, consideration for others, and accountability for one’s actions. In general, most people feel that these qualities are generally considered to be ‘good’.

When used in the sense of a positive evaluation, ‘good’ can also be an intensifier: He’s such a good singer; that’s such a good story. It is also sometimes used in mild oaths: “Good grief!; God’s sake!”

In addition, good can be a suffix, such as good-looking or good-natured. It can also be an adverb, as in good-luck or good-morning. Occasionally, the form gooder is used as an informal comparative of good, but it is not listed in any dictionary.