religion Hear it!

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religion definition

re·li·gion (ri lij′ən)

noun

    1. belief in a divine or superhuman power or powers to be obeyed and worshiped as the creator(s) and ruler(s) of the universe
    2. expression of such a belief in conduct and ritual
    1. any specific system of belief and worship, often involving a code of ethics and a philosophy the Christian religion, the Buddhist religion, etc.
    2. any system of beliefs, practices, ethical values, etc. resembling, suggestive of, or likened to such a system humanism as a religion
  3. the state or way of life of a person in a monastery, convent, etc.
  4. any object of conscientious regard and pursuit

Etymology: ME religioun < OFr or L: OFr religion < L religio, reverence for the gods, holiness, in LL(Ec), a system of religious belief < ? religare, to bind back < re-, back + ligare, to bind, bind together; or < ? re- + IE base *leĝ-, to collect > logic, Gr legein, L legere

religion Idioms

get religion

☆ Informal
  1. to become religious
  2. to become very conscientious or earnest about something

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms religion idiom

religion Synonyms

religion

n.

  1. Belief in or relationship to a superior being or beings

    belief, faith, creed, devotion, piety, spirituality, persuasion, godliness, morality, religiosity, theology, faithfulness, devoutness, myth, superstition, supernaturalism, doctrine, confession, cult, mythology, communion, religious conscience, fidelity, spiritual-mindedness, religious bent, ethical standard; see also faith 2.

  2. Organized worship or service of a deity

    veneration, adoration, consecration, sanctification, prayer, ritual, rites, liturgy, ceremonial, holy sacrifice, incantation, holiday, observance, pietism, orthodoxy, reformism; see also ceremony 2.

  3. A specific system of belief and worship

    faith, denomination, sect; see church 3, faith 2. see also church 3.

    Religions include: Christianity, Mormonism, Christian Science, Zen Buddhism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Sunni Islam, Sunnite Islam, Shi`a Islam, Shiite Islam, Sikhism, Jainism, Judaism, Theosophy, Zoroastrianism, Shintoism, Taoism, Bahai, Gnosticism, deism, theism, polytheism, dualism;

get religion*

be converted, believe, change, be born again; see reform 3.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

religion Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • antiquity: Davies, J. ( 1999 ), Death, Burial and Rebirth in the Religions of Antiquity ( London: Routledge ).

Converse of object

  • organize: Remember Max organized religion creates a lot more problems than it solves.

Adjective modifier

  • monotheistic: Yet in spite of this, all of the great monotheistic religions teach that man was created in God's image.

Modifies a noun

  • thread: Debs Hallsworth ( debsuk ) Mon, 29 May 2006 Religion Thread I can't because of who I am.

Noun used with modifier

  • pagan: As long he didn't try to argue that the Hebrew Scriptures were the truth and the pagan religions were not.
religion usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

religion quotes

The true meaning of religion is thus not simply morality, but morality touched with emotion.

-Arnold, Matthew

So we have the Philistine of genius in religionöLuther; the Philistine of genius in politicsöCromwell; the Philistine of genius in literatureöBunyan.

-Arnold, Matthew

More and more mankind will discover that we have to turn to poetry to interpret life for us, to console us, to sustain us.Without poetry, our science will appear incomplete; and most of what now passes with us for religion and philosophy will be replaced by poetry.

-Arnold, Matthew

religion quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"religion." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/religion>

APA Style

religion. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/religion

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