adj.
- Having or showing belief in and reverence for God or a deity.
- Of, concerned with, or teaching religion: a religious text.
- Extremely scrupulous or conscientious: religious devotion to duty.
A member of a monastic order, especially a nun or monk.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin religiōsus, from religiō, religion. See religion.]
religiously re·li'gious·ly adv.religiousness re·li'gious·ness n.
SYNONYMS religious, devout, pious. These adjectives mean having or showing a belief in and veneration for God or a divine power, especially as it is reflected in the practice of religion. Religious implies adherence to religion in both belief and practice: The cathedral at Chartres is an expression of the religious fervor of the Middle Ages. Devout connotes ardent faith and sincere devotion: Devout Muslims observe Ramadan punctiliously. Pious stresses dutiful, reverential discharge of religious duties: a pious woman who attends Mass every morning.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
