spirituality

American  

[spir-i-choo-al-i-tee] / ˌspɪr ɪ tʃuˈæl ɪ ti /

noun

• spiritualities
  plural

1. the quality or fact of being spiritual.

   Life in modern society is all work and no spirituality.

2. incorporeal or immaterial nature.

3. predominantly spiritual character as shown in thought, life, etc.; spiritual tendency or tone.

4. Often spiritualities. property or revenue of the church or of an ecclesiastic in their official capacity.

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spirituality British  

/ ˌspɪrɪtjʊˈælɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being dedicated to God, religion, or spiritual things or values, esp as contrasted with material or temporal ones

2. the condition or quality of being spiritual

3. a distinctive approach to religion or prayer

   the spirituality of the desert Fathers

4. (often plural) Church property or revenue or a Church benefice

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonspirituality
  noun
• superspirituality
  noun
• unspirituality
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• spiritualities
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of spirituality

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English from Medieval Latin spīrituālitās; see spiritual, -ity

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Explanation

Spirituality has to do with the spirit, not as in ghosts, but as in the essence of being human — your soul or your inner life. Spirituality often has to do with religion, but it doesn't have to. You might say, "I'm not religious; but I have a strong sense of spirituality," which might mean that you practice yoga or meditation, or you pray with a group, or you nurture your spirit by spending time in nature. Religions usually have defined beliefs, rituals, and guidelines; spirituality is more individual.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spirituality spiritualities

That title is something of a metaphor, about connecting to a deep, abiding spirituality accessible to us all.

From Salon ● Sep. 30, 2026

Large crowds are expected throughout the pontiff's trip, which the Church believes reflects a growing spirituality among the French and other Europeans.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

Many participants built new support networks through friends, partners, therapy, spirituality and support groups.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026

“I think you’re trying to fill a hole that can’t be filled unless it’s filled with goodness, some kind of spirituality, not saying religion,” he explained to ABC News in 2013.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

Helping the poor was part of his worldview, in which spirituality definitely played a part.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

In each, Ms. Khatwa, an earth scientist and television host, skillfully and respectfully balances scientific understanding with the spiritualities tied to the mythical stories of indigenous peoples.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 16, 2026

She also badly wanted something healing during the pandemic and always was drawn to spiritualities that were nature-based and women-centered.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 5, 2021

“Unlike in certain dogmatic religions where there’s a right and wrong way to be a practitioner, there isn’t that in these nondenominational spiritualities, which I think is so beautiful,” Garza said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2019

The clergy claimed both spiritualities and temporalities from the Pope, and, being governed by ecclesiastical laws, were not like other English subjects amenable to the civil code.

From English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History Designed as a Manual of Instruction by Henry Coppee

And since the dispensation of spiritualities is directed chiefly to the common good, according to 1 Cor.

From Summa Theologica, Part II-II (Secunda Secundae) Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province by Saint Thomas Aquinas

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