The phrase, good riddance, means, “it is good that this person or thing is gone or going away.” We can say this when we see or talk about anything we don’t like that is going away. It is an insult if spoken about a person. It can be said about anything, large or small, also including situations, feelings, ideas, and other abstract things.
The word riddance is not used in any other English phrase anymore. But, it is the same rid as in the phrase to get rid of, which means “to throw out” or “make go away”:
I am going to get rid of the moldy bread in the refrigerator. Good riddance!
A longer version of this saying is “good riddance to bad rubbish” but this is rarely heard.
More Examples of “Good riddance” in a Sentence
- The majority of Americans saw through this effort and voted him out, good riddance.
- Good riddance to winter!
- If there was ever a year to say good riddance to, 2020 is the one.
- I say goodbye and good riddance, with no possibility of returning.
- Goodbye and good riddance to that outdated, monstrosity of a tax code.