religious Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a member of a religious order who is bound by vows of poverty and chastity and obedience
  2. adjective satellite concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church
    spiritual.
    • religious texts
    • a member of a religious order
    • lords temporal and spiritual
    • spiritual leaders
    • spiritual songs
  3. adjective having or showing belief in and reverence for a deity
    • a religious man
    • religious attitude
  4. adjective of or relating to clergy bound by monastic vows
    • the religious or regular clergy conducts the service
  5. adjective satellite extremely scrupulous and conscientious
    • religious in observing the rules of health

WordNet

Re*li"gious adjective
Etymology
OF. religius, religious, F. religieux, from L. religiosus. See Religion.
Definitions
  1. Of or pertaining to religion; concerned with religion; teaching, or setting forth, religion; set apart to religion; as, a religious society; a religious sect; a religious place; religious subjects, books, teachers, houses, wars.
    Our law forbids at their religious rites My presence. Milton.
  2. Possessing, or conforming to, religion; pious; godly; as, a religious man, life, behavior, etc.
    Men whose lives Religious titled them the sons of God. Mlton
  3. Scrupulously faithful or exact; strict.
    Thus, Indianlike, Religious in my error, I adore The sun, that looks upon his worshiper. Shak.
  4. Belonging to a religious order; bound by vows.
    One of them is religious. Chaucer.
    Syn. -- Pious; godly; holy; devout; devotional; conscientious; strict; rogod; exact.
Re*li"gious noun
Definitions
  1. A person bound by monastic vows, or sequestered from secular concern, and devoted to a life of piety and religion; a monk or friar; a nun. Addison.

Webster 1913