spirit

1 of 2

noun

spir·​it ˈspir-ət 

1

: an animating or vital principle held to give life to physical organisms

2

: a supernatural being or essence: such as

a

capitalized : holy spirit

b

: soul sense 2a

c

: an often malevolent being that is bodiless but can become visible

specifically : ghost sense 2

d

: a malevolent being that enters and possesses a human being

3

: temper or disposition of mind or outlook especially when vigorous or animated

in high spirits

4

: the immaterial intelligent or sentient part of a person

5

a

: the activating or essential principle influencing a person

acted in a spirit of helpfulness

b

: an inclination, impulse, or tendency of a specified kind : mood

6

a

: a special attitude or frame of mind

the money-making spirit was for a time driven back

—J. A. Froude

b

: the feeling, quality, or disposition characterizing something

undertaken in a spirit of fun

7

: a lively or brisk quality in a person or a person's actions

8

: a person having a character or disposition of a specified nature

9

: a mental disposition characterized by firmness or assertiveness

denied the charge with spirit

10

a

: distillate sense 1: such as

(1)

: the liquid containing ethanol and water that is distilled from an alcoholic liquid or mash

—often used in plural

(2)

: any of various volatile liquids obtained by distillation or cracking (as of petroleum, shale, or wood)

—often used in plural

b

: a usually volatile organic solvent (such as an alcohol, ester, or hydrocarbon)

11

a

: prevailing tone or tendency

spirit of the age

b

: general intent or real meaning

spirit of the law

12

: an alcoholic solution of a volatile substance

spirit of camphor

13

: enthusiastic loyalty

school spirit

14

capitalized Christian Science : god sense 1b

spirit

2 of 2

verb

spirited; spiriting; spirits

transitive verb

1

: to infuse with spirit

especially : animate

hope and apprehension of feasibleness spirits all industry

—John Goodman

2

: to carry off usually secretly or mysteriously

was hustled into a … motorcar and spirited off to the country

—W. L. Shirer

Synonyms

Noun

• soul
• essence
• psyche

Choose the Right Synonym for spirit

courage, mettle, spirit, resolution, tenacity mean mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship.

courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty.

the courage to support unpopular causes

mettle suggests an ingrained capacity for meeting strain or difficulty with fortitude and resilience.

a challenge that will test your mettle

spirit also suggests a quality of temperament enabling one to hold one's own or keep up one's morale when opposed or threatened.

her spirit was unbroken by failure

resolution stresses firm determination to achieve one's ends.

the resolution of pioneer women

tenacity adds to resolution implications of stubborn persistence and unwillingness to admit defeat.

held to their beliefs with great tenacity

Examples of spirit in a Sentence

Noun

the spirits of my ancestors

Some religions believe that the same spirit is reincarnated many times in different bodies.

Yoga is very healthy for both body and spirit.

We will all miss her generous spirit.

My father was a proud spirit.

Verb

The singer was spirited away in a limousine after the show.

Some of the funds had been spirited away to other accounts.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Once the production and sale of recreational liquor became legal again in 1933, the spirit surged in the mid-20th century, slumped in the 1980s and then boomed in the 2010s. —Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Oct. 2025

In 2015, a reporter spent a night at the Algonquin with ghost-hunting tools and claimed that eight spirits — possibly including Dorothy Parker — answered her call. —Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025

Verb

Adults deserve Halloween treats too, and Ina Garten's festive cocktail is as stylish as it is spirited. —Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Oct. 2025

In 1911, the Mona Lisa skyrocketed to international fame when a worker from the Louvre hid the small Leonardo da Vinci painting in his coat and spirited it away for two years. —Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French, espirit, spirit, from Latin spiritus, literally, breath, from spirare to blow, breathe

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing spirit

• animal spirit
• as/when the spirit moves one
• familiar spirit
• free spirit
• kindred spirit
• moving force/spirit
• proof spirit
• spirit animal
• spirit gum
• spirit level
• spirit of wine
• spirit rapping
• spirit varnish
• spirit writing
• surgical spirit
• that's the spirit
• the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
• the spirit of the law
• white spirit

Kids Definition

spirit

1 of 2 noun

spir·​it ˈspir-ət 

1

: a force within a human being thought to give the body life, energy, and power : soul

2

a

capitalized : holy spirit

b

: a being (as a ghost) whose existence cannot be explained by the known laws of nature

3

: mood entry 1

in good spirits

4

: a lively or brisk quality

answered with spirit

5

: real meaning or intention

the spirit of the law

6

: an attitude governing one's actions

said in a spirit of fun

7

a

: a distilled alcoholic liquor

—usually used in plural

b

: a solution in alcohol

—often used in plural

spirits of camphor

spirit

2 of 2 verb

: to carry off secretly or mysteriously

Etymology

Noun

Middle English spirit "a life-giving force," derived from Latin spiritus, literally, "breath"

Medical Definition

spirit

noun

spir·​it ˈspir-ət 

1

a

: distillate

especially : the liquid containing ethyl alcohol and water that is distilled from an alcoholic liquid or mash

—often used in plural

b

: a usually volatile organic solvent (as an alcohol, ester, or hydrocarbon)

2

: an alcoholic solution of a volatile substance

spirit of camphor