religious
Americanadjective
-
of, relating to, or concerned with religion.
a religious holiday.
-
imbued with or exhibiting religion; pious; devout; godly.
a religious man.
- Synonyms:
- reverent
- Antonyms:
- impious
-
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
plural
religious-
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
- antireligious adjective
- nonreligious adjective
- nonreligiousness noun
- overreligious adjective
- prereligious adjective
- pseudoreligious adjective
- quasi-religious adjective
- religiously adverb
- religiousness noun
- ultrareligious adjective
- ultrareligiousness noun
Etymology
Origin of religious
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English (from Old French ), from Latin religiōsus, equivalent to religi(ō) religion + -ōsus -ous
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.
But, as perhaps you have noticed, they trend toward the religious, mythic or historic, i.e. dead.
From Los Angeles Times
In recent days, the fourth-year player has posted several videos on Instagram in which he speaks at length about his religious beliefs.
From Los Angeles Times
It stressed the law regulates licensed professionals only and does not extend to religious ministers or others who provide private counseling to young people.
From Los Angeles Times
This message transcends the political, religious, and social borders that separate us.
From Los Angeles Times
At night she read Hindu religious texts with the youngest officer, who asked her to send him passages she found especially moving.
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.
