# bible

/ˈbaɪbəɫ/ (US) · /bˈaɪbəl/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bible
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

the holy book of the Christian religion. It is also used to describe any very important book that gives all the information you need about a subject.

For teachers: the sacred text of Christianity, comprising the Old and New Testaments. In a secular context, it refers to a comprehensive and authoritative handbook or guide for a specific field.

## Examples

- He reads a chapter from the Bible every morning.
- For many years, this thick manual was considered the bible of the automotive repair industry.
- While primarily a religious text, the Bible has exerted a profound influence on Western literature, art, and law for nearly two millennia.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I read Bible every day" but "I read the Bible every day" — When referring to the religious text, it almost always requires the definite article 'the'.

## Usage notes

- Capitalised when referring to the religious text; often written in lowercase when used metaphorically for a reference book.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.