spiritual

¹spir·i·tu·al

adj
\ˈspir-i-chə-wəl, -i-chəl, -ich-wəl\

Definition of SPIRITUAL

1

: of, relating to, consisting of, or affecting the spirit : incorporeal <spiritual needs>

2

a : of or relating to sacred matters <spiritual songs> b : ecclesiastical rather than lay or temporal <spiritual authority> <lords spiritual>

3

: concerned with religious values

4

: related or joined in spirit <our spiritual home> <his spiritual heir>

5

a : of or relating to supernatural beings or phenomena b : of, relating to, or involving spiritualism : spiritualistic

— spir·i·tu·al·ly adverb

— spir·i·tu·al·ness noun

Examples of SPIRITUAL

1. Doctors must consider the emotional and spiritual needs of their patients.
2. I regularly consult our pastor about spiritual matters.
3. The Romantic composers saw Beethoven as a spiritual ancestor.
4. France will always be the spiritual home of wine lovers.

Origin of SPIRITUAL

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French espirital, spiritual, from Late Latin spiritualis, from Latin, of breathing, of wind, from spiritus

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SPIRITUAL

Synonyms: bodiless, ethereal, formless, incorporeal, insubstantial, nonmaterial, nonphysical, immaterial, unbodied, unsubstantial

Antonyms: bodily, corporeal, material, physical, substantial

Related Words: metaphysical, psychic (also psychical), supernatural; impalpable, insensible, intangible, invisible; airy, diaphanous, gaseous, gossamery, tenuous, thin, vaporous, wispish

Near Antonyms: animal, carnal, fleshly; detectable, discernible (also discernable), noticeable, observable, palpable, sensible, tangible, visible; bulky, heavy, massive, solid

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary