# religious

/ɹiˈɫɪdʒəs/ (US) · /ɹɪlˈɪdʒəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/religious
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. related to religion

adjective · CEFR B1

relating to religion or belief in a god.

For teachers: pertaining to religion or the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power.

- The city is famous for its beautiful religious buildings and ancient temples.
- The constitution guarantees freedom of religious expression for all citizens, regardless of their specific theological background.

### 2. devout or faithful

adjective · CEFR B1

having a strong belief in a god and following the rules of a religion.

For teachers: committed to the practice or adherence of a particular faith; devout.

- She is a very religious person who goes to church every Sunday morning.
- Despite living in a largely secular society, he remained deeply religious, dedicating several hours each day to prayer and meditation.

### 3. strict or regular

adjective · CEFR B2

doing something very carefully and regularly, as if it were a duty.

For teachers: scrupulous or conscientious; exhibiting the level of dedication typically associated with religious practice.

- He has a religious habit of checking his emails every hour.
- The athlete followed her training schedule with religious devotion, never missing a single session regardless of the weather.

### 4. member of an order

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a person who belongs to a group like monks or nuns.

For teachers: a member of a religious order or congregation, such as a monk or nun, living under specific vows.

- The local religious gathered at the monastery for their daily prayers.
- The conference was attended by both the laity and the religious, representing various orders from across the continent.

Usage: Usually functions as a collective noun or a countable noun in ecclesiastical contexts.

## Examples

- 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.

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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.