religious
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or concerned with religion.
a religious holiday.
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imbued with or exhibiting religion; pious; devout; godly.
a religious man.
- Synonyms:
- reverent
- Antonyms:
- impious
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scrupulously faithful; conscientious.
religious care.
- Synonyms:
- rigorous, meticulous, strict, scrupulous
-
pertaining to or connected with a monastic or religious order.
-
appropriate to religion or to sacred rites or observances.
noun
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a member of a religious order, congregation, etc.; a monk, friar, or nun.
-
the religious, devout or religious persons.
Each year, thousands of the religious make pilgrimages to the shrine.
adjective
-
of, relating to, or concerned with religion
-
-
pious; devout; godly
-
( as collective noun ; preceded by the )
the religious
-
-
appropriate to or in accordance with the principles of a religion
-
scrupulous, exact, or conscientious
-
Christianity of or relating to a way of life dedicated to religion by the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and defined by a monastic rule
noun
Related Words
Religious, devout, pious indicate a spirit of reverence toward God. Religious is a general word, applying to whatever pertains to faith or worship: a religious ceremony. Devout indicates a fervent spirit, usually genuine and often independent of outward observances: a deeply devout though unorthodox church member. Pious implies constant attention to, and extreme conformity with, outward observances. It can also suggest sham or hypocrisy: a pious hypocrite.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of religious
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English (from Old French ), from Latin religiōsus, equivalent to religi(ō) religion + -ōsus -ous
Explanation
Religious, besides meaning "having to do with religion," can also mean "acting as if something is a religion." If you have never missed a broadcast of your favorite TV show for the last five years, then you're religious about it. Just as religion is a broad concept with multiple manifestations, the word religious can be used in many contexts. You could literally be describing someone's particular religious duties as prescribed by his religion. If you have a religious temperament, you think about spiritual things a lot. If someone is a fanatic about football, you could describe him as a religious fan. That doesn't mean he thinks the football is God, just that he really, really cares.
Vocabulary lists containing religious
List 1
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List 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
President Bill Clinton’s key political adviser, James Carville, once said that if he did believe in reincarnation he wouldn’t come back as a world or religious leader, or even a great Major League Baseball player.
From Barron's • May 20, 2026
But because the song is religious she was told it could not be used in a civil ceremony.
From BBC • May 19, 2026
Publishers say certain types of books still fare well—including celebrity memoirs and religious titles.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026
She confessed to chuckling at the governor’s memes — an over-the-top oeuvre that includes Newsom as super hero, Newsom as religious beacon, Newsom as romance-novel hunk — and his other cheeky jabs at the president.
From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026
For once the religious side of the holidays was uppermost in every mind.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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.
