devotion
Americannoun
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profound dedication, especially to religion.
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earnest attachment to a cause, person, etc.
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an assignment or appropriation to any purpose, cause, etc..
the devotion of one's wealth and time to scientific advancement.
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Ecclesiastical. Often devotions religious observance or worship; a form of prayer or worship for special use.
noun
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(often foll by to) strong attachment (to) or affection (for a cause, person, etc) marked by dedicated loyalty
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religious zeal; piety
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(often plural) religious observance or prayers
Usage
What are other ways to say devotion? The noun devotion refers to profound dedication or earnest attachment to a cause, person, or deity. How does devotion compare to love and affection? Learn more on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
- predevotion noun
- superdevotion noun
Etymology
Origin of devotion
First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English devocioun, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin dēvōtiōn-, stem of dēvōtiō “consecration, enchantment, vow”; equivalent to devote + -ion
Explanation
If you feel loyal and loving toward someone or something, that's devotion. If your devotion to your pet hamster truly knows no limits, you might splurge on a solid-gold hamster wheel. Devotion also means a commitment or dedication to some purpose. Your devotion recycling is noble, but can you wait until I've read the newspaper? The plural noun devotions can have a religious meaning too, meaning prayers offered to God. You heard the minister was hired for his devotion to God, but the fact that he fell asleep during devotions made you wonder.
Vocabulary lists containing devotion
Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" (1863)
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100 Great Words from "Fahrenheit 451" -- Part I Vocabulary
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Michelle Obama's Speech at the 2016 DNC
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Last year, I tucked this simple necklace that’s a sign of devotion inside the plastic sleeve holding my Los Angeles Times badge, along with a few religious medals.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026
That it is not true that a woman can win a man’s eternal devotion with submission.
From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026
During my days in Panama with him, I saw up close just how far he’d gone in his devotion to this alluring—but very questionable—kind of medicine.
From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026
You're subjected to an unwritten contract, where blind devotion is exchanged for intermittent moments of joy - and large amounts of heartache and pain.
From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026
I’m sure my grandma got her big heart and devotion to family from her parents.
From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
