devout

[dih-vout]

adjective

devouter, devoutest 

1. devoted to divine worship or service; pious; religious.

   a devout Catholic.

   Antonyms: irreverent

2. expressing devotion or piety.

   devout prayer.

3. earnest or sincere; hearty.

   He had a devout allegiance to the political regime.

   Synonyms: ardent, fervent, serious, intense

devout

/ dɪˈvaʊt /

adjective

1. deeply religious; reverent

2. sincere; earnest; heartfelt

   a devout confession

Other Word Forms

• devoutly adverb
• devoutness noun
• nondevout adjective
• nondevoutly adverb
• nondevoutness noun
• undevout adjective
• undevoutly adverb
• undevoutness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of devout¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French devo(u)t, from Late Latin dēvotus, Latin: “devoted”; devote

Word History and Origins

Origin of devout¹

C13: from Old French devot, from Late Latin dēvōtus, from Latin: faithful; see _devote

Synonym Study

See religious.

Example Sentences

A devout Christian and church leader, he speaks openly about how his faith has shaped his jurisprudence and administration of the courts.

Read more on Salon

A devout Christian born in Mumbai, Rodrigues said she was told just five minutes before the match to bat at number three.

Read more on Barron's

When they met, in 1947, Malik was a devout Orthodox Christian, Lebanon’s first ambassador to the U.S. and a spokesman for Lebanese and Palestinian Arabs in the Middle East.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Laura is an older woman, highly educated, actively devout, intelligent, resourceful, good-humored and a long-time resident of a community that struggles to balance its relative wealth with the neediness of surrounding communities.

Read more on Salon

While acknowledging her mother's influence and thanking her for not forcing her into a white-collar job, as a devout Christian she also feels that God had a role.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• adoring www.thesaurus.com
• ardent 
• faithful 
• fervent 
• passionate 
• pious 
• religious 
• sincere 
• zealous