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See more synonyms for religious on Thesaurus.com
  1. of, relating to, or concerned with religion: a religious holiday.
  3. scrupulously faithful; conscientious: religious care.
  5. appropriate to religion or to sacred rites or observances.
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noun, plural re·li·gious.
  2. the religious, devout or religious persons: Each year, thousands of the religious make pilgrimages to the shrine.
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Origin of religious

1175–1225; Middle English (< Old French) < Latin religiōsus, equivalent to religi(ō) religion + -ōsus -ous
Related formsre·li·gious·ly, adverbre·li·gious·ness, nounan·ti·re·li·gious, adjectivean·ti·re·li·gious·ly, adverbnon·re·li·gious, adjectivenon·re·li·gious·ly, adverbnon·re·li·gious·ness, nouno·ver·re·li·gious, adjectiveo·ver·re·li·gious·ly, adverbpre·re·li·gious, adjectivepseu·do·re·li·gious, adjectivepseu·do·re·li·gious·ly, adverbqua·si-re·li·gious, adjectivequa·si-re·li·gious·ly, adverbul·tra·re·li·gious, adjectiveul·tra·re·li·gious·ly, adverbul·tra·re·li·gious·ness, noun
Can be confusedreligious sacrilegious sacrosanct


See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com
2. reverent. Religious, devout, pious indicate a spirit of reverence toward God. Religious is a general word, applying to whatever pertains to faith or worship: a religious ceremony. Devout indicates a fervent spirit, usually genuine and often independent of outward observances: a deeply devout though unorthodox church member. Pious implies constant attention to, and extreme conformity with, outward observances. It can also suggest sham or hypocrisy: a pious hypocrite. 3. devoted, unswerving, meticulous.



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Examples from the Web for religious

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • It is not necessarily his own religious belief that he will select.

    The Grand Old Man

    Richard B. Cook


    Life in London

    Edwin Hodder

  • There was too much political and religious intrigue--she thought.

  • It is not my intention to do more than touch upon the religious wars of the Cvennes.

    The Roof of France

    Matilda Betham-Edwards

  • "Don't talk like that about a religious gathering, Henry," said his sister, frowning.

British Dictionary definitions for religious


  1. of, relating to, or concerned with religion
    1. pious; devout; godly
    2. (as collective noun; preceded by the)the religious
  2. appropriate to or in accordance with the principles of a religion
  3. scrupulous, exact, or conscientious
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  1. Christianity a member of an order or congregation living by such a rule; a monk, friar, or nun
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Derived Formsreligiously, adverbreligiousness, noun

Word Origin and History for religious


c.1200, "devout, pious, imbued with or expressive of religious devotion," from Anglo-French religius, Old French religious (12c., Modern French religieux) and directly from Latin religiosus, from religio (see religion). Meaning "pertaining to religion" is from 1530s. Transferred sense of "scrupulous, exact" is recorded from 1590s. Related: Religiousness.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper