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.
"A selfless and gentle soul, he tirelessly uplifted others through his words and actions. His achievements were great and we do not want misrepresentations about his character to overshadow them," they added.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
It features the Latin-influenced soul bop “If I Let You,” which quickly went viral and garnered praise from artists such as Questlove, Ghostface Killah, Erykah Badu, Pharrell Williams, SZA and Timbaland.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
Davis said Panettiere was “an old, wise soul with such a deep heart.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
Whatever your musical taste, “Musical Bodies” pulsates with spirit and soul alike.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
“She’ll be a soul in torment, carried off just when she was fixing to lock us up in that schoolhouse for another year.”
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
At the time, I was really taken with De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest, and I wanted to make electronic music.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 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
Soul and funk band Maze, which was fronted by the late Frankie Beverly, shared some love for Bryson on social media.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2026
I watched Noah make his way toward Ethan and pass a Soul penny to him.
From "The View From Saturday" by E.L. Konigsburg
Science can explain the world around us, but magic helps us appreciate the wonder in the atomic arrangement of nature, chance meetings with open-hearted souls and kindness without expectation of anything in return.
From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026
Nobody took more souls on a tennis court than he did.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026
When the national mood wobbles, we turn to the arts, which have the power to free buried desires, soothe souls and cross divides.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
In the Catholic view, humans, uniquely, are creatures made in God’s image and likeness—endowed by him with rational, free, immortal souls and the capacity to love him and each other.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 24, 2026
The cruel words from loved ones often find the deepest roots in our souls.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
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.
