spirituality
Americannoun
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the quality or fact of being spiritual.
Life in modern society is all work and no spirituality.
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incorporeal or immaterial nature.
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predominantly spiritual character as shown in thought, life, etc.; spiritual tendency or tone.
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Often spiritualities. property or revenue of the church or of an ecclesiastic in their official capacity.
noun
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the state or quality of being dedicated to God, religion, or spiritual things or values, esp as contrasted with material or temporal ones
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the condition or quality of being spiritual
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a distinctive approach to religion or prayer
the spirituality of the desert Fathers
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(often plural) Church property or revenue or a Church benefice
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of spirituality
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English from Medieval Latin spīrituālitās; see spiritual, -ity
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.
Vocabulary lists containing spirituality
Selection Vocabulary 3, Unit 1
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Eid Al-Fitr
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All Saints' Day
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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.
Appeared in the January 10, 2026, print edition as 'A Vortex of Spirituality'.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026
Their show sits at the top of Spotify's podcast charts in the Religion & Spirituality category.
From Salon • Apr. 4, 2025
The first study established the concept of "Spirituality of Science," and asked people about feelings of transcendence, connection and meaning when engaging with science.
From Science Daily • Oct. 5, 2023
In his new book, “The Transcendent Brain: Spirituality in the Age of Science,” Alan Lightman describes watching the lives of a family of ospreys one summer near his house on a small island in Maine.
From Washington Post • Mar. 17, 2023
Spirituality is not dependent on either church or priest.
From Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great Philosophers, Volume 8 by Hubbard, Elbert
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.
