religious
B1neutral
Definition
Meaning
relating to religion or the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power
showing devotion to a principle, practice, or activity with strict regularity or fervour
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can describe both institutional aspects of faith (religious texts) and personal commitment (religious devotion). The extended meaning implies zealous, conscientious regularity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. In historical/formal British contexts, 'religious' can occasionally refer to members of religious orders (e.g., 'a religious' meaning a monk/nun), a usage less common in modern American English.
Connotations
Neutral in both. The extended meaning ('with religious care') is slightly more common in literary registers in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
ADJ + NOUN (religious faith)BE + ADJ (He is religious.)ADV + ADJ (deeply religious)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “with religious care/fervour/regularity”
- “a religious experience (intense, transcendent experience)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in CSR/ethics contexts (e.g., 'religious accommodations in the workplace').
Academic
Common in theology, sociology, history, and anthropology.
Everyday
Common for describing personal faith, festivals, institutions.
Technical
Used in legal contexts (e.g., 'religious exemption'), sociology of religion.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- She attends the religious service every Sunday without fail.
- The school has a strong religious ethos.
American English
- He's very religious and goes to church regularly.
- They sought a religious exemption from the mandate.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My friend is religious and goes to church.
- Eid is a religious festival.
- People should have the right to their own religious beliefs.
- She follows her morning routine with religious dedication.
- The debate centred on the role of religious institutions in public life.
- He studied the religious symbolism in medieval art.
- The country's constitution guarantees religious freedom for all denominations.
- Her commitment to the cause was almost religious in its intensity.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 're-LIGIOUS' – the LIG reminds you of 'ligament' (a connecting tie). Religion connects people to beliefs.
Conceptual Metaphor
RELIGIOUS ZEAL IS A FIRE/BURNING (e.g., 'burning with religious fervour'); RELIGIOUS DEVOTION IS A JOURNEY (e.g., 'path of faith').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'религиозный', which has a narrower core meaning. The English 'religious' in its extended sense (e.g., 'He is religious about his morning run.') does NOT translate directly to 'религиозный'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'religionary' (non-existent). Incorrect: 'He is a religionary person.' Correct: 'He is a religious person.' Overusing as a synonym for 'very' (e.g., 'religious good' – incorrect).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'religious' in its EXTENDED, non-theological sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it can describe someone with strong personal spiritual beliefs outside formal structures.
'Religious' often implies affiliation with an organised system of beliefs, rituals, and institutions. 'Spiritual' is broader, focusing more on personal, inner experience of the sacred, which may be independent of organised religion.
No, it's a standard, neutral metaphorical extension implying conscientious regularity and is not considered disrespectful.
The adverb is 'religiously', used both literally (He prays religiously.) and metaphorically (She exercises religiously.).