spirit
B1Formal to neutral; widely used in everyday, religious, philosophical, and business contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The non-physical part of a person which is the seat of emotions and character; the essence or animating principle of something.
A particular way of thinking or feeling that characterizes a group, time, or activity; courage and energy; the intended meaning or real purpose of something (as opposed to its literal interpretation).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word operates on a spectrum from concrete (a supernatural entity) to abstract (mood or attitude). It often implies an intangible but powerful force or quality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor differences in collocational frequency. 'Community spirit' is slightly more frequent in UK English. The legal term 'spirit of the law' is identical.
Connotations
Largely identical. In religious contexts, connotations are identical. In casual use, 'spirit' (meaning mood) is equally common.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the spirit of somethinga spirit of somethingin (a/the) ... spiritpossessed by a spiritcapture the spirit ofVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”
- “In the spirit of fairness...”
- “When the spirit moves you.”
- “Enter into the spirit of things.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to company culture, motivation, and ethos (e.g., 'innovative spirit', 'entrepreneurial spirit').
Academic
Used in philosophy, theology, literature, and history to denote animating principles, zeitgeist, or non-corporeal entities.
Everyday
Commonly used for mood, attitude, or a ghost (e.g., 'holiday spirit', 'team spirit', 'a friendly spirit').
Technical
In law ('spirit vs. letter'), chemistry ('spirits' as volatile liquids), and theology (the Holy Spirit).
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- There's a real community spirit in our village.
- They acted in a spirit of cooperation.
- The old castle is said to be haunted by a restless spirit.
American English
- The team showed incredible fighting spirit in the playoffs.
- He's a free spirit who hates rules.
- She did it in the spirit of fun, not malice.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children were in good spirits at the party.
- Some people believe in spirits and ghosts.
- We need to show more team spirit to win.
- The spirit of the festival is joyful and colourful.
- Her indomitable spirit helped her overcome all obstacles.
- The new policy violates the spirit of the agreement, if not the letter.
- The novel captures the spirit of the fin de siècle perfectly.
- They argued that the legislation was contrary to the spirit of the constitution.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'spirit' as the 'SPecial Invisible RITual' inside a person or thing – its invisible core.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPIRIT IS A SUBSTANCE / FORCE / PERSON (e.g., 'She has a fiery spirit', 'The spirit of the movement', 'A restless spirit').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'спирт' (alcohol). The Russian 'дух' can mean both 'spirit' and 'smell/odour', leading to potential confusion.
- The phrase 'in spirit' (e.g., 'I'll be there in spirit') is idiomatic and doesn't have a direct one-word equivalent.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'spirit' as a countable noun for 'mood' inappropriately (e.g., 'He has a good spirit' sounds odd; 'He is in good spirits' is correct).
- Confusing 'spirit' (essence) with 'spirits' (alcoholic drinks or moods).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'spirit' used to mean 'the real intended meaning'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While it has important religious meanings (e.g., the Holy Spirit), it is very commonly used in secular contexts to mean attitude, mood, or essence (e.g., team spirit, spirit of the age).
They are often synonyms. However, 'soul' is more strongly associated with individual identity and immortality in religious contexts. 'Spirit' can be more general, referring to a mood, a non-human entity (a ghost), or the characteristic quality of something (the spirit of a place).
'Spirits' in the plural often refers to a current emotional state or mood. The singular 'spirit' in compounds like 'team spirit' refers to a shared, singular attitude or feeling that binds a group.
Yes, but it's rare and formal. It means to convey someone or something away mysteriously or secretly (e.g., 'The documents were spirited away before the audit'). It is not related to the common noun meanings.