devout

adjective

de·​vout di-ˈvau̇t 

1

: committed or devoted to religion or to religious duties or exercises

a devout Catholic

2

: expressing piety or religious fervor : expressing devotion

a devout attitude

3

a

: devoted to a pursuit, belief, or mode of behavior : serious, earnest

a devout baseball fan

born a devout coward

—G. B. Shaw

b

: warmly sincere

a devout wish for peace

devoutly adverb

devoutness noun

Synonyms of devout

• loyal
• staunch
• steadfast
• faithful
• devoted
• true
• dedicated

Examples of devout in a Sentence

It is his devout wish to help people in need.

devout Red Sox fans never lost faith during the long World Series drought

Recent Examples on the Web

No one mistakes him for a devout Christian or a person of faith or morality. —Hillary Rodham Clinton, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026

Later in life, Grandma Kandy Kane became a devout Jehovah’s Witness. —Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026

Last season, there was controversy when former Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, who is a devout Christian, wrote a religious message on his rainbow armband. —Adam Crafton, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026

Um, and then on the other side, I was raised, uh, by my mother and stepfather as a devout Jehovah's Witness. —Outside Online, 21 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin devotus, from Latin, past participle of devovēre — see devote

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for devout

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• dropout
• dugout

Kids Definition

devout

adjective

de·​vout di-ˈvau̇t 

1

: devoted to religion or to religious duties or exercises

2

: expressing devotion

a devout attitude

3

a

: devoted to an activity, belief, or type of behavior

a devout baseball fan

b

: earnest entry 2 sense 1, sincere

gave them devout thanks

devoutly adverb

devoutness noun