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
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
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
Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
If such steps aren't taken, there could be health and spiritual consequences.
—The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024
Free Daily and Monthly Horoscopes Read the full Aries Daily Horoscope
Taurus (April 20 - May 20)
Balancing your spiritual life with your public life?
—USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
More than simply cavernous rooms with angelic acoustics, old churches house hibernating spiritual energies.
—Jonathan Rowe, SPIN, 4 Apr. 2024
But at the same time, many people who have called these places home still have a sentimental connection to them, any spiritual degradation notwithstanding.
—Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2024
This technology fosters a deeper connection with the holiday's spiritual dimensions, making the sacred more accessible to everyone, regardless of geographical constraints.
—Neil Sahota, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
The deeply spiritual and Zen-like Kravitz shared vivid anecdotes about his beloved grandfather, Albert Roker, by way of explaining his own commitment to health and fitness.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024
Its pastors preach a different approach to spiritual life, one that’s plain to see this time of year, during the holiest days on the Christian calendar.
—Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 20 Mar. 2024
Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 14 Dec. 2023
Learn about the history of the American spiritual and its oral tradition with a recital by American Spiritual Ensemble.
—Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 25 Feb. 2024
For the past decade Russell, a vocalist, composer, and arranger specializing in music in the Yiddish language, has identified other parallels between African American spirituals and Ashkenazi Jewish music.
—Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 8 Jan. 2024
Gospel is an innovative and ever-evolving musicality born out of traditional spirituals, jazz and the blues that has been a continued throughline in the Black experience, especially in the Black Christian community.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 12 Feb. 2024
Parrish will sing a program of German and Russian lieder, a world premiere by Alistair Coleman, and a selection of spirituals that welcome Michele Fowlin’s Children of the Gospel Choir to the stage.
—Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 1 Feb. 2024
None is more electrifying than a traditional spiritual about the prodigal son, which Oglesby uses to net her first theatrical role.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 29 Jan. 2024
Such a definition, in both a spiritual and a historical sense, is ludicrous.
—Thomas S. Kidd, WSJ, 11 Jan. 2024
That history is of course full of horrors, not the golden past portrayed in works about the gracious days of juleps and spirituals.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 18 Dec. 2023
Adjective
Mulla, 51, a former social worker who leads a spiritual and psychological wellness center, delivered flowers.
—Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
If such steps aren't taken, there could be health and spiritual consequences.
—The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024
Free Daily and Monthly Horoscopes Read the full Aries Daily Horoscope
Taurus (April 20 - May 20)
Balancing your spiritual life with your public life?
—USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
More than simply cavernous rooms with angelic acoustics, old churches house hibernating spiritual energies.
—Jonathan Rowe, SPIN, 4 Apr. 2024
But at the same time, many people who have called these places home still have a sentimental connection to them, any spiritual degradation notwithstanding.
—Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2024
This technology fosters a deeper connection with the holiday's spiritual dimensions, making the sacred more accessible to everyone, regardless of geographical constraints.
—Neil Sahota, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
The deeply spiritual and Zen-like Kravitz shared vivid anecdotes about his beloved grandfather, Albert Roker, by way of explaining his own commitment to health and fitness.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024
Its pastors preach a different approach to spiritual life, one that’s plain to see this time of year, during the holiest days on the Christian calendar.
—Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 20 Mar. 2024
Noun
As a map of Austin’s musical journey, the recital moved through spirituals and standard repertoire into 20th-century and contemporary art song and opera.
—Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 14 Dec. 2023
Learn about the history of the American spiritual and its oral tradition with a recital by American Spiritual Ensemble.
—Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 25 Feb. 2024
For the past decade Russell, a vocalist, composer, and arranger specializing in music in the Yiddish language, has identified other parallels between African American spirituals and Ashkenazi Jewish music.
—Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 8 Jan. 2024
Gospel is an innovative and ever-evolving musicality born out of traditional spirituals, jazz and the blues that has been a continued throughline in the Black experience, especially in the Black Christian community.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 12 Feb. 2024
Parrish will sing a program of German and Russian lieder, a world premiere by Alistair Coleman, and a selection of spirituals that welcome Michele Fowlin’s Children of the Gospel Choir to the stage.
—Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 1 Feb. 2024
None is more electrifying than a traditional spiritual about the prodigal son, which Oglesby uses to net her first theatrical role.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 29 Jan. 2024
Such a definition, in both a spiritual and a historical sense, is ludicrous.
—Thomas S. Kidd, WSJ, 11 Jan. 2024
That history is of course full of horrors, not the golden past portrayed in works about the gracious days of juleps and spirituals.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 18 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spiritual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near spiritual
Cite this Entry
“Spiritual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spiritual. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
noun
ˌspir-ich-ə-ˈwal-ət-ē
spiritually
adverb
ˈspir-ich-(ə-)wəl-ē
-ich-əl-ē
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.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share