What does "religious" mean?
A member of a religious order, congregation, or certain other forms of consecrated life, i.e. a monk, nun, sister, brother, friar, or other religious priest.
Religious
adj, noun
adj, noun ·3 syllables ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A member of a religious order, congregation, or certain other forms of consecrated life, i.e. a monk, nun, sister, brother, friar, or other religious priest.
- Grammar: religious is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: abbacomes, abbot, accurate, adoring.
- Useful contrasts: antireligious, antonym(s) of, areligious.
- Usage evidence: I consider the Jehovah's witnesses who knock on my door all the time to be no different from religious zealots trying to force their beliefs on me.
How to use "religious"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "religious" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "religious" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "religious" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "religious" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "religious" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abbacomes" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "religious", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A member of a religious order, congregation, or certain other forms of consecrated life, i.e. a monk, nun, sister, brother, friar, or other religious priest.
"Towards the end of the seventh century the monks of Fleury [...] clandestinely excavated the body of Benedict himself, plus the corpse of his even more shadowy sister and fellow religious, Scholastica."
- 2 a member of a religious order who is bound by vows of poverty and chastity and obedience wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Concerning religion.
"It is the job of this court to rule on legal matters. We do not consider religious issues."
- 2 Committed to the practice or adherence of religion.
"I was much more religious as a teenager than I am now."
- 3 Highly dedicated, as one would be to a religion.
"I'm a religious fan of college basketball."
- 4 Belonging or pertaining to a religious order.
"Near-synonym: monastic"
Adjective
- 1 of or relating to clergy bound by monastic vows wordnet
- 2 having or showing belief in and reverence for a deity wordnet
- 3 concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church wordnet
- 4 extremely scrupulous and conscientious wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"I consider the Jehovah's witnesses who knock on my door all the time to be no different from religious zealots trying to force their beliefs on me."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "religious"?
Common synonyms include: abbacomes, abbot, accurate, adoring, anglican, anthropomorphic.
How do you use "religious" in a sentence?
I consider the Jehovah's witnesses who knock on my door all the time to be no different from religious zealots trying to force their beliefs on me.
Etymology
From Middle English religiouse, religious, religius, religeous, from Anglo-Norman religieus, religius, from Old French religious, religieux, and their source, Latin religiōsus (“religious, superstitious, conscientious”), from religiō. Doublet of religieux.