religious

1 of 2

adjective

re·​li·​gious ri-ˈli-jəs How to pronounce religious (audio)
1
: relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity
a religious person
religious attitudes
2
: of, relating to, or devoted to religious beliefs or observances
joined a religious order
3
a
: scrupulously and conscientiously faithful
religiously adverb
religiousness noun

religious

2 of 2

noun

plural religious
: a member of a religious order under monastic vows

Examples of religious in a Sentence

Adjective My religious beliefs forbid the drinking of alcohol. Religious leaders called for an end to the violence. His wife is very active in the church, but he's not religious himself.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
His life was a search for a higher meaning, a religious belief structuring his world. John Hopewell, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024 Home to numerous other religious sites, Visit Portugal also notes that Braga is a spectacular place to visit during both the Holy Week Celebrations (this year between March 24 – March 30) and the São João Festival, celebrating the birth of John the Baptist, on June 24. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 18 Mar. 2024 Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to secure another five years in power, ruling an India that has become increasingly polarized along religious lines. Rhea Mogul, CNN, 16 Mar. 2024 Our chaplains provide regular religious services and counseling, and our facility provides nursing care in our own apartment for conditions that do not require being in the nursing facility, as well as caring hospice services when that is needed. Harriette Cole, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2024 Unlike the ultra-Orthodox, Israel’s religious Zionist community is fully integrated into the country’s army and economy. Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2024 Israel’s religious Zionists dream of settlements in Gaza. Jenny Gold, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Those with religious beliefs are also likely to blame their church, spiritual advisors, or even God for failing them. Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024 Arab and Muslim Americans face significantly higher rates of mental illness, studies from major medical journals show — including suicide rates that are more than double those of other religious groups. Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2024
Noun
As a young religious, Bishop-elect Lombardo did missionary work in Bolivia and Honduras. Laura Rodríguez Presa, chicagotribune.com, 11 Sep. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'religious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French religius, from Latin religiosus, from religio

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French religius, from religius, adjective

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of religious was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near religious

Cite this Entry

“Religious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/religious. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

religious

1 of 2 adjective
re·​li·​gious ri-ˈlij-əs How to pronounce religious (audio)
1
: devoted to God or to the powers or forces believed to govern life
a very religious person
2
: of or relating to religion
religious beliefs
3
: very devoted and faithful
performed his duties with religious regularity
religiously adverb
religiousness noun

religious

2 of 2 noun
plural religious
: a member of a religious order

More from Merriam-Webster on religious

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