spiritual

[spir-i-choo-uhl]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or consisting of spirit; incorporeal.

2. of or relating to the spirit or soul, as distinguished from the physical nature.

   a spiritual approach to life.

3. closely akin in interests, attitude, outlook, etc..

   the professor's spiritual heir in linguistics.

4. of or relating to spirits or to spiritualists; supernatural or spiritualistic.

5. characterized by or suggesting predominance of the spirit; ethereal or delicately refined.

   She is more of a spiritual type than her rowdy brother.

6. of or relating to the spirit as the seat of the moral or religious nature.

7. of or relating to sacred things or matters; religious; devotional; sacred.

8. of or belonging to the church; ecclesiastical.

   lords spiritual and temporal.

9. of or relating to the mind or intellect.

noun

1. a spiritual or religious song, especially one composed by and for Black Americans during the period of legalized slavery in the United States.

   Spirituals like “Go Down, Moses” were sometimes used as signals on the Underground Railroad.

2. spirituals, affairs of the church.

3. a spiritual thing or matter.

spiritual

/ ˈspɪrɪtjʊəl /

adjective

1. relating to the spirit or soul and not to physical nature or matter; intangible

2. of, relating to, or characteristic of sacred things, the Church, religion, etc

3. standing in a relationship based on communication between the souls or minds of the persons involved

   a spiritual father

4. having a mind or emotions of a high and delicately refined quality

noun

1. See Negro spiritual

2. (often plural) the sphere of religious, spiritual, or ecclesiastical matters, or such matters in themselves

3. the realm of spirits

Other Word Forms

• spiritually adverb
• spiritualness noun
• antispiritual adjective
• antispiritually adverb
• nonspiritual adjective
• nonspiritually adverb
• nonspiritualness noun
• pseudospiritual adjective
• pseudospiritually adverb
• quasi-spiritual adjective
• quasi-spiritually adverb
• superspiritual adjective
• superspiritually adverb
• unspiritual adjective
• unspiritually adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of spiritual¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Medieval Latin spīrituālis, from Latin spīritu(s) spirit + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

Televangelists have longed manufactured spiritual crises of various types — for themselves, for the church, for society and for the world — to drive donations.

From Salon

Now L.A. locals, the sisters are originally from Yucatan, Mexico, where they say the moon holds spiritual significance.

From Los Angeles Times

Rick Karr, a 51-year-old spiritual wanderer, has no Web site, but says he was instructed by the Holy Spirit to travel to the desert and answer the phone.

From Los Angeles Times

I am not a theologian, nor am I trained in pastoral care or spiritual counseling.

From Salon

Madonna's Ray Of Light, written after the birth of her daughter Lourdes, eschewed her brash 1980s persona for a more spiritual, psychedelic sound.

From BBC

Related Words

• divine 
• metaphysical 
• sacred