religious

[ri-lij-uhs]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or concerned with religion.

   a religious holiday.

2. imbued with or exhibiting religion; pious; devout; godly.

   a religious man.

   Synonyms: reverent
   Antonyms: impious

3. scrupulously faithful; conscientious.

   religious care.

   Synonyms: rigorous, meticulous, strict, scrupulous

4. pertaining to or connected with a monastic or religious order.

5. appropriate to religion or to sacred rites or observances.

noun

plural

religious 

1. a member of a religious order, congregation, etc.; a monk, friar, or nun.

2. the religious, devout or religious persons.

   Each year, thousands of the religious make pilgrimages to the shrine.

religious

/ rɪˈlɪdʒəs /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or concerned with religion

2. 1. pious; devout; godly

   2. ( as collective noun ; preceded by the )

      the religious

3. appropriate to or in accordance with the principles of a religion

4. scrupulous, exact, or conscientious

5. 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

1. Christianity a member of an order or congregation living by such a rule; a monk, friar, or nun

Other Word Forms

• religiously adverb
• religiousness noun
• antireligious adjective
• nonreligious adjective
• nonreligiousness noun
• overreligious adjective
• prereligious adjective
• pseudoreligious adjective
• quasi-religious adjective
• ultrareligious adjective
• ultrareligiousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of religious¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English (from Old French ), from Latin religiōsus, equivalent to religi(ō) religion + -ōsus -ous

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

But I do have to say that being among the Palace fans at Wembley was honestly the closest thing I've seen to an actual religious experience.

Read more on BBC

Lebanon’s political system is confessional, meaning it divides power between religious groups.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He gushed about her “strong parenting and motherhood and female life element,” portraying her as reaching “younger religious women” with content about “sunscreen and parenting styles and the secret to fixing your period.”

Read more on Salon

There are no political, religious or secularist orthodoxies or litmus tests.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In a Reformation context where certain religious images were restricted, maps of the Holy Land became acceptable visual aids and took on devotional significance.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

• doctrinal 
• holy 
• sacred 
• sectarian 
• theological