religious

1 of 2

adjective

re·​li·​gious ri-ˈli-jəs 

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

b

: fervent, zealous

religiously adverb

religiousness noun

religiousness

2 of 2

noun

re·​li·​gious·​ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being religious : religiosity

Synonyms of religious

Adjective

• sacred
• spiritual
• liturgical
• devotional

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

Founded in 1847 by immigrants seeking religious freedom, Pella still feels like a small slice of the Netherlands on Midwestern soil. —Staff, USA Today, 8 June 2026

The Time were the guys your parents warned you about, even if your conservative religious parents were also warning you about Prince for different reasons. —Ahmir “questlove” Thompson, VIBE.com, 7 June 2026

Wildly popular religious processions, pilgrimages and feasts continue to be held in most Spanish regions. —Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026

That Prevent has been largely focused on one religious minority makes the issues more acute. —The Week Uk, TheWeek, 7 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

Noun

Middle English religiousnesse, from religious + -nesse -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing religious

• anti-religious
• inter-religious

Rhymes for religious

• irreligious
• nonreligious
• interreligious
• litigious
• prestigious
• prodigious

Kids Definition

religious

1 of 2 adjective

re·​li·​gious ri-ˈlij-əs 

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