spiritual

American  

[spir-i-choo-uhl] / ˈspɪr ɪ tʃu əl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or consisting of spirit; incorporeal.

2. of or relating to the spirit or soul, as distinguished from the physical nature.

   a spiritual approach to life.

3. closely akin in interests, attitude, outlook, etc..

   the professor's spiritual heir in linguistics.

4. of or relating to spirits or to spiritualists; supernatural or spiritualistic.

5. characterized by or suggesting predominance of the spirit; ethereal or delicately refined.

   She is more of a spiritual type than her rowdy brother.

6. of or relating to the spirit as the seat of the moral or religious nature.

7. of or relating to sacred things or matters; religious; devotional; sacred.

8. of or belonging to the church; ecclesiastical.

   lords spiritual and temporal.

9. of or relating to the mind or intellect.

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noun

1. a spiritual or religious song, especially one composed by and for Black Americans during the period of legalized slavery in the United States.

   Spirituals like “Go Down, Moses” were sometimes used as signals on the Underground Railroad.

2. spirituals, affairs of the church.

3. a spiritual thing or matter.

spiritual British  

/ ˈspɪrɪtjʊəl /

adjective

1. relating to the spirit or soul and not to physical nature or matter; intangible

2. of, relating to, or characteristic of sacred things, the Church, religion, etc

3. standing in a relationship based on communication between the souls or minds of the persons involved

   a spiritual father

4. having a mind or emotions of a high and delicately refined quality

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noun

1. See Negro spiritual

2. (often plural) the sphere of religious, spiritual, or ecclesiastical matters, or such matters in themselves

3. the realm of spirits

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• superspiritually
  adverb
• spiritually
  adverb
• antispiritually
  adverb
• nonspiritual
  adjective
• quasi-spiritually
  adverb
• pseudospiritual
  adjective
• antispiritual
  adjective
• quasi-spiritual
  adjective
• superspiritual
  adjective
• nonspiritually
  adverb
• pseudospiritually
  adverb
• unspiritual
  adjective
• spiritualness
  noun
• unspiritually
  adverb
• nonspiritualness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of spiritual

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Medieval Latin spīrituālis, from Latin spīritu(s) spirit + -ālis -al ¹

Explanation

Spiritual things are concerned with sacred matters or religion, affecting the spirit or the soul. Spiritual entities like ghosts lack a material body or substance. Spiritual is the adjective form of the word spirit, which comes from the Latin word for "breath," and means the thing that animates life. Spiritual can be used to talk about anything that goes beyond mere physical existence, from ghost spirits to religious feelings. As a noun, spiritual describes a religious song originating in the African-American culture of the American South.

Example Sentences

Turkey on Tuesday expressed alarm over a weekend gig by Kanye West in Istanbul attended by nearly 120,000 fans, saying it included elements that offended its spiritual sensitivities.

From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026

She said that the change to the script added a spiritual strangeness to the film and gave the second act a real climax, because no one expected to lose the Jedi master.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

After our visit to Adat Reyim, an inclusive, independent synagogue in Springfield, Virginia, I befriended its spiritual leader, Rabbi Bruce Aft.

From Salon • Jun. 1, 2026

In Islamic tradition, martyrdom is associated with spiritual purity, and families sometimes find comfort in describing such deaths as honoured.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

Mr. Daniels says, “Some people say that John Lennon is one of the most gifted, spiritual musicians ever.”

From "Fish in a Tree" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Related Words

• divine
• metaphysical
• sacred