spirituality

American  

[spir-i-choo-al-i-tee] / ˌspɪr ɪ tʃuˈæl ɪ ti /

noun

plural

spiritualities

1. the quality or fact of being spiritual.

   Life in modern society is all work and no spirituality.

2. incorporeal or immaterial nature.

3. predominantly spiritual character as shown in thought, life, etc.; spiritual tendency or tone.

4. Often spiritualities. property or revenue of the church or of an ecclesiastic in their official capacity.

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spirituality British  

/ ˌspɪrɪtjʊˈælɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being dedicated to God, religion, or spiritual things or values, esp as contrasted with material or temporal ones

2. the condition or quality of being spiritual

3. a distinctive approach to religion or prayer

   the spirituality of the desert Fathers

4. (often plural) Church property or revenue or a Church benefice

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Other Word Forms

• nonspirituality noun
• superspirituality noun
• unspirituality noun

Etymology

Origin of spirituality

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English from Medieval Latin spīrituālitās; spiritual, -ity

Explanation

Spirituality has to do with the spirit, not as in ghosts, but as in the essence of being human — your soul or your inner life. Spirituality often has to do with religion, but it doesn't have to. You might say, "I'm not religious; but I have a strong sense of spirituality," which might mean that you practice yoga or meditation, or you pray with a group, or you nurture your spirit by spending time in nature. Religions usually have defined beliefs, rituals, and guidelines; spirituality is more individual.

Example Sentences

The treatments on offer at Xtend and elsewhere have an air of science and spirituality to them—they are discussed at longevity conferences, biohacking meetups, and even immortalist churches.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

“Sinners” centers the Black American experience through history, art and spirituality, while “One Battle” speaks to the white liberal male’s ineffectual navigation of weaponized racial grievance.

From Salon • Mar. 13, 2026

He moved beyond Christianity to a vague and uncertain spirituality.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

In early voyages to the New World, Euro Americans brought their ideas about identity, spirituality, ethnicity and skin color as they first encountered Native Americans.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 2, 2026

The experience made a profound impression on him that led him to think twice about the difference between spirituality and religion, between faith and the institutions that deliver its message.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel