spir·i·tu·al
ˈspir-i-chə-wəl 
-i-chəl,
-ich-wəl
1
: of, relating to, consisting of, or affecting the spirit : incorporeal
spiritual needs
2
a
: of or relating to sacred matters
spiritual songs
b
: ecclesiastical rather than lay or temporal
spiritual authority
lords spiritual
3
: concerned with religious values
4
: related or joined in spirit
our spiritual home
his spiritual heir
5
a
: of or relating to supernatural beings or phenomena
b
: of, relating to, or involving spiritualism : spiritualistic
spiritually
adverb
spiritualness
noun
1
spirituals plural
: things of a spiritual, ecclesiastical, or religious nature
2
: a religious song usually of a deeply emotional character that was developed especially among Black people in the southern U.S.
3
capitalized
: any of a party of 13th and 14th century Franciscans advocating strict observance of a rule of poverty for their order
Synonyms
Examples of spiritual in a Sentence
Adjective
Doctors must consider the emotional and spiritual needs of their patients.
I regularly consult our pastor about spiritual matters.
The Romantic composers saw Beethoven as a spiritual ancestor.
France will always be the spiritual home of wine lovers.
Noun
The congregation sang hymns and spirituals.
sang a spiritual at the funeral
Recent Examples on the Web
Rafi Schwartz, theweek, 13 Nov. 2024
Perhaps that’s why Sedona attracts such a strong enclave of New Age spiritual devotees searching for metaphysical energy in the vortexes allegedly sprinkled throughout its buttes and spires.
—Erin Strout, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024
Steve Marble, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
Burning of incense: Matter is symbolically transformed into the spiritual.
—Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez, The Courier-Journal, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spiritual 
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Adjective
What happened Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the head of the Church of England and spiritual leader of 85 million Anglicans worldwide, resigned Tuesday amid intense pressure over his handling of a notorious child abuser.
—Rafi Schwartz, theweek, 13 Nov. 2024
Perhaps that’s why Sedona attracts such a strong enclave of New Age spiritual devotees searching for metaphysical energy in the vortexes allegedly sprinkled throughout its buttes and spires.
—Erin Strout, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024
Noun
His mother was an avid singer of spirituals, and a next-door neighbor, Lucy Jackson, helped Jones learn to tap out boogie-woogie on the keyboard.
—Steve Marble, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
Burning of incense: Matter is symbolically transformed into the spiritual.
—Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez, The Courier-Journal, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spiritual
Dictionary Entries Near spiritual
Cite this Entry
“Spiritual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spiritual. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spiritual
1 of 2 adjective
spir·i·tu·al
ˈspir-ich-(ə-)wəl
-ich-əl
1
: of, relating to, or consisting of spirit : not bodily or material
2
: of or relating to sacred or religious matters
3
: related or joined in spirit
our spiritual home
spirituality
noun
ˌspir-ich-ə-ˈwal-ət-ē
spiritually
adverb
ˈspir-ich-(ə-)wəl-ē
-ich-əl-ē
spiritualness
noun
spiritual
2 of 2 noun
: a religious song usually of a very emotional character that was developed especially among Black people in the southern U.S.
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