re ‧ li ‧ gious S2 W2 /rɪˈlɪdʒəs/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ religion , ↑ religiosity ; adverb : ↑ religiously ; adjective : ↑ religious ≠ ↑ irreligious ]
1 . relating to religion in general or to a particular religion:
I don’t share her religious beliefs.
a religious school
the dates of major religious observances such as Easter or Christmas
2 . believing strongly in your religion and obeying its rules carefully:
a deeply religious person
—religiosity /rɪˌlɪdʒiˈɒsəti, rɪˌlɪdʒiˈɒsɪti $ -ˈɑːs-/ noun [uncountable]
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THESAURUS
■ relating to religion
▪ religious relating to religion:
the country's religious leaders
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the importance of religious freedom
▪ spiritual relating to matters of the human spirit, rather than the physical world:
The Dalai Lamai is the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet.
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We tend to ignore people's spriritual needs, and focus too much on material things.
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spiritual values
▪ holy [usually before noun] connected with God and religion, and therefore treated in a special way – used especially in the following phrases:
the Holy Bible
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the holy city of Mecca
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a Hindu holy man
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They believe they are fighting a holy war.
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The priest puts some holy water on the child's head.
▪ sacred connected with God and religion, and therefore treated in a special way – used especially in the following phrases:
This place is sacred to both Jews and Muslims.
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In India, cows are considered sacred.
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the Hindu sacred texts
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sacred music
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a sacred ritual
▪ theological relating to the study of religion or to religious beliefs:
a theological debate
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theological training
▪ secular not relating to religion or controlled by a religious authority:
secular education
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secular matters
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In the UK we live in a much more secular society.
■ believing in a religion
▪ religious believing strongly in a religion and obeying its rules:
My father was a very religious man.
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Are you religious?
▪ devout having a very strong belief in a religion:
a devout Catholic
▪ orthodox believing in the traditional beliefs, laws, and practices of a religion:
orthodox Jews
■ not believing in God or religion
▪ atheist noun , adjective someone who does not believe that God exists:
She says she is an atheist.
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atheist propaganda
▪ agnostic noun , adjective someone who believes that people cannot know whether God exists or not:
I think I'd describe myself as an agnostic.
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a group of prominent agnostic scientists