Religious can describe something connected with religionA system of faith, worship, and practices concerning a god or gods., a person who has strong belief and devotionDeep loyalty, love, or commitment to a person, cause, or practice., or someone who follows rules very carefully. It can also refer to a member of a religious orderA group of people living under the same religious discipline and rules..
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /rɪˈlɪdʒəs/
Easy pronunciation: ri-LIJ-uhs (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress on the second syllable.
Adjective meaning having or showing belief in and reverence for a deity.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Religious Meaning
devoted to religion or strongly believing in God or gods
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: having or showing belief in and reverence for a deity
Example: She comes from a deeply religious family.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- spiritual — Can fit in some contexts, but it is broader and often means inward or non-material rather than specifically devout.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Religious
Meaning 2
connected with religion or the church
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church
Example: The library has a section for religious books.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- spiritual — Sometimes overlaps, but it is not always a direct substitute for 'connected with religion'.
Meaning 3
very careful and exact about following rules or habits
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: extremely scrupulous and conscientious
Example: He is religious about taking his medication every morning.
Meaning 4
a monk, nun, or similar person in a religious order
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a member of a religious order who is bound by vows of poverty and chastity and obedience
Example: The convent was home to several religious.
Meaning 5
connected with monks, nuns, or other clergy who have taken vows
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: of or relating to clergy bound by monastic vows
Example: The religious clergy were assigned to the monastery.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Religious Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- spiritual
connected with religion or the church
- spiritual
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Don't confuse religious meaning 'devout' with religious meaning 'connected with religion' or with the noun meaning 'a member of a religious order'.
- In modern English, 'religious' is usually an adjective; as a noun it is much less common and refers to someone in a religious order.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does religious mean?
Religious usually means devoted to religion or strongly believing in God or a higher power. It can also mean connected with religion, or, in another sense, very careful and regular about something.
What is a simple synonym for religious?
A close synonym for the main sense is spiritual, though it does not always mean exactly the same thing.
Can religious mean something other than faith?
Yes. It can also describe something related to religion, and it can mean very scrupulous or strict about following a routine or rule.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.