the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action in humans, regarded as a distinct entity separate from the body, and commonly held to be separable in existence from the body; the spiritual part of humans as distinct from the physical part.
the spiritual part of humans regarded in its moral aspect, or as believed to survive death and be subject to happiness or misery in a life to come.
arguing the immortality of the soul.
the disembodied spirit of a deceased person.
He feared the soul of the deceased would haunt him.
the emotional part of human nature; the seat of the feelings or sentiments.
a human being; person.
high-mindedness; noble warmth of feeling, spirit or courage, etc.
the animating principle; the essential element or part of something.
the inspirer or moving spirit of some action, movement, etc.
the embodiment of some quality.
He was the very soul of tact.
(initial capital letter) God; the divine source of all identity and individuality.
shared ethnic awareness and pride among Black people, especially Black Americans.
deeply felt emotion, as conveyed or expressed by a performer or artist.
the spirit or immaterial part of man, the seat of human personality, intellect, will, and emotions, regarded as an entity that survives the body after death
Christianity the spiritual part of a person, capable of redemption from the power of sin through divine grace
the essential part or fundamental nature of anything
a person's feelings or moral nature as distinct from other faculties
Also called: soul music. a type of Black music resulting from the addition of jazz, gospel, and pop elements to the urban blues style
( as modifier )
a soul singer
(modifier) of or relating to Black Americans and their culture
soul brother
soul food
nobility of spirit or temperament
a man of great soul and courage
an inspiring spirit or leading figure, as of a cause or movement
a person regarded as typifying some characteristic or quality
the soul of discretion
a person; individual
an honest soul
See life
an exclamation of surprise
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English sāwl, sāwol; cognate with Dutch ziel, German Seele, Old Norse sāl, Gothic saiwala
The noun soul can mean an individual human being, but it can also mean essence of a human being. If you believe the soul is immortal, you believe that even when your physical body dies, some other part of you lives on. Soul shows up in various forms in all Nordic and Germanic languages, but no one knows where it originated, just like the whole idea of the soul. Philosophers and theologians have debated the exact definition of soul for ages, but it always stands for that ineffable part of a human unlimited by the body, the grandest, deepest part. Soul music is a popular form of gospel, and if you "have soul," you really feel what it is to be alive.
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Acts can span from bluegrass to blues, folk to funk, salsa to soul, and everything in between.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026
Mitchell did some "soul searching" over his role in Teasdale's journey.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
It would be decades before other scholars caught up to her conceptions of the soul in the Viking Age, or the intricacies of funerary ritual as preparation for a future life.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
Set in one tatty motel room in 1967 Detroit, “Voices” is a vicious flick about rising two soul acts hellbent on getting on stage that night to impress Motown Records’ Barry Gordy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026
One of the tethers binding the soul to the body snapped, like the stem of a leaf splitting from a tree.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
It’s two parts Prince, one part Soul Train.
From Salon ● Aug. 25, 2026
"Soul, purpose and good energy" were among the key messages Alonso highlighted in his first in-house interview.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Fanone -- a former Trump supporter -- has spoken repeatedly about the trauma he experienced during the uprising, including in his 2022 memoir "Hold the Line: The Insurrection and One Cop's Battle for America's Soul."
From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026
Alan is the author of five books, including, most recently, “Tomorrow’s Capitalist: My Search for the Soul of Business.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026
When the tournament was over, we formed a Soul Train line and danced on the basketball court.
From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers
It is also likely the reason that Sheen connected deeply with nearly everyone he encountered, drawing an estimated 42,000 souls to the Catholic Church.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
The hardy souls who join Garry in his more outlandish acts—and seem to have a fine time doing so—deserve some souvenir to show the grandkids their brief moment of theatrical fame, or infamy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
After days of searching shelters and morgues, many Nepali families held symbolic funeral ceremonies on Tuesday to "liberate the souls" of loved ones missing since the deadly flash floods last week.
From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026
Fashion designer Donatella Versace said: "The world has lost one of the kindest and most generous of souls, the greatest of story tellers and a true legend of music."
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
He prayed that all the souls would be far away on the Death Journey.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
