religious
n. countablen. a person who belongs to a group of people who live by strict holy rules, like a monk or a nun. They usually live together in a special community and dedicate their lives to their faith.
n. a member of a religious order or congregation who is bound by vows. Often used as a collective plural to refer to the clergy and members of monastic communities.
The religious live in a quiet monastery on the hill.
The local hospital was founded by a group of religious who dedicated their lives to nursing the poor.
Historical records suggest that the religious of the abbey were instrumental in preserving classical texts during the early medieval period through their meticulous transcription work.
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.
When used as a noun, it typically refers to individuals in a formal order; it is distinct from the general adjective 'religious'.
He is a very kind religious.He is a very kind religious person.In modern English, 'religious' is almost always an adjective; using it as a noun to mean 'a person of faith' is rare outside of specific Catholic or monastic contexts.