spiritual

1 of 2

adjective

spir·​i·​tu·​al ˈspir-i-chə-wəl 

-i-chəl,

-ich-wəl

1

: of, relating to, consisting of, or affecting the spirit : incorporeal

spiritual needs

2

a

: of or relating to sacred matters

spiritual songs

b

: ecclesiastical rather than lay or temporal

spiritual authority

lords spiritual

3

: concerned with religious values

4

: related or joined in spirit

our spiritual home

his spiritual heir

5

a

: of or relating to supernatural beings or phenomena

b

: of, relating to, or involving spiritualism : spiritualistic

spiritually adverb

spiritualness noun

spiritual

2 of 2

noun

1

spirituals plural : things of a spiritual, ecclesiastical, or religious nature

2

: a religious song usually of a deeply emotional character that was developed especially among Black people in the southern U.S.

3

capitalized : any of a party of 13th and 14th century Franciscans advocating strict observance of a rule of poverty for their order

Synonyms

Adjective

• bodiless
• ethereal
• formless
• immaterial
• incorporeal
• insubstantial
• nonmaterial
• nonphysical
• unbodied
• unsubstantial

Noun

• anthem
• canticle
• carol
• chorale
• hymn
• psalm

Examples of spiritual in a Sentence

Adjective

Doctors must consider the emotional and spiritual needs of their patients.

I regularly consult our pastor about spiritual matters.

The Romantic composers saw Beethoven as a spiritual ancestor.

France will always be the spiritual home of wine lovers.

Noun

The congregation sang hymns and spirituals.

sang a spiritual at the funeral

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The debut release from the legendary designer’s eponymous marque feels like a spiritual successor to the revered F1. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 26 Apr. 2024

The Museums Special Section Dark Awakening: Many artists are dimming the lights of their museum shows, for a mix of symbolic and spiritual reasons. —Michael Janofsky, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French espirital, spiritual, from Late Latin spiritualis, from Latin, of breathing, of wind, from spiritus

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing spiritual

• spiritual bouquet

Kids Definition

spiritual

1 of 2 adjective

spir·​i·​tu·​al ˈspir-ich-(ə-)wəl 

-ich-əl

1

: of, relating to, or consisting of spirit : not bodily or material

2

: of or relating to sacred or religious matters

3

: related or joined in spirit

our spiritual home

spirituality

ˌspir-ich-ə-ˈwal-ət-ē

noun

spiritually

ˈspir-ich-(ə-)wəl-ē

-ich-əl-ē

adverb

spiritualness noun

spiritual

2 of 2 noun

: a religious song usually of a very emotional character that was developed especially among blacks in the southern U.S.