ENGLISH
REFERENCE

spirituality

n.
US //ˌspɪɹɪˌtʃuˈæɫəˌti// UK //spˌɪɹɪtʃuːˈælɪti// spir·i·tu·al·i·ty
  1. 1 personal inner life (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the part of a person that is about their spirit, mind, or soul rather than their body or money.

    the quality or state of being spiritual; a focus on the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.

    Example

    Many people find that yoga helps them connect with their spirituality.

    Example

    The author explores how modern spirituality often exists independently of traditional religious institutions, focusing instead on personal mindfulness and ethical living.
    • soulfulness
    • inner life
  2. 2 religious devotion (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Religion

    the quality of being very interested in religion and religious values.

    the quality of being devoted to religious or sacred matters.

    Example

    The monk was respected by everyone for his deep spirituality and kindness.

    Example

    The cathedral's architecture was designed to evoke a sense of profound spirituality in the worshippers, drawing their eyes upward toward the light.
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  1. 3 church property or clergy (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic Formal Religion

    things that belong to the church or the group of people who lead a church.

    ecclesiastical property or the collective body of the clergy, as distinguished from secular or temporal matters.

    Example

    In the past, the spirituality of the kingdom held great power over the land.

    Example

    The legal dispute centered on whether the tithes were part of the spirituality of the parish or belonged to the local lord's temporal estate.

    Usage

    In modern English, this sense is almost exclusively found in historical or legal texts regarding church history.
    • temporality
Origin

From Middle French spiritualité, from Late Latin spīrituālitās.

Word family

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