spirituality

American  

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

noun

• spiritualities
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• nonspirituality
  noun
• superspirituality
  noun
• unspirituality
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• spiritualities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of spirituality

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English from Medieval Latin spīrituālitās; see 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

See Examples For:

spirituality spiritualities

Her songs covered deeply personal themes around growing up poor, love and loss, as well as female empowerment and spirituality.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

Many participants built new support networks through friends, partners, therapy, spirituality and support groups.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026

Lisa-Kaindé: The older we grow, the more religious I’m becoming … but Naomi lives her spirituality in very different ways.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

Reviewing the 2024 edition of the presentation, our critic praised the “deep-seated spirituality and humanity that have shaped much of Hispanic art in all periods, genres and media.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 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

In each, Ms. Khatwa, an earth scientist and television host, skillfully and respectfully balances scientific understanding with the spiritualities tied to the mythical stories of indigenous peoples.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 16, 2026

She also badly wanted something healing during the pandemic and always was drawn to spiritualities that were nature-based and women-centered.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 5, 2021

“Unlike in certain dogmatic religions where there’s a right and wrong way to be a practitioner, there isn’t that in these nondenominational spiritualities, which I think is so beautiful,” Garza said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2019

But these spiritualities, felt rather than seen, can but lurk about architectural form as volatile effects, to be gathered from it by reflexion; their expression is not really sensuous at all.

From The Renaissance Studies in Art and Poetry by Walter Pater

Look, look," said that lady to Mr. Slope, who was still standing near to her; "see the high spiritualities and temporalities of the land in league together, and all against poor me.

From Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope