Religion is belief in a god or gods and the activities that are connected with this belief, such as praying or worshipping in a building such as a church or temple.
...his understanding of Indian philosophy and religion.
Do avoid potentially contentious subjects such as religion, sex or politics.
Synonyms: belief, faith, doctrine, theology More Synonyms of religion
2. countable noun
A religion is a particular system of belief in a god or gods and the activities that are connectedwith this system.
...the Christian religion.
3.
See get religion
religion in British English
(rɪˈlɪdʒən)
noun
1.
belief in, worship of, or obedience to a supernatural power or powers considered to be divine or to have control of human destiny
2.
any formal or institutionalized expression of such belief
the world's major religions
3.
the attitude and feeling of one who believes in a transcendent controlling power or powers
4. mainly Roman Catholic Church
the way of life determined by the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience entered upon by monks, friars, and nuns
to enter religion
5.
something of overwhelming importance to a person
football is his religion
6. archaic
a.
the practice of sacred ritual observances
b.
sacred rites and ceremonies
Word origin
C12: via Old French from Latin religiō fear of the supernatural, piety, probably from religāre to tie up, from re- + ligāre to bind
religion in American English
(rɪˈlɪdʒən)
noun
1.
a.
belief in a divine or superhuman power or powers to be obeyed and worshiped as the creator(s) and ruler(s) of the universe
b.
expression of such a belief in conduct and ritual
2.
a.
any specific system of belief and worship, often involving a code of ethics and a philosophy
the Christian religion, the Buddhist religion, etc.
b.
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
Idioms:
get religion
Word origin
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
COBUILD Collocations
religion
civil religion
eastern religion
folk religion
practise religion
true religion
Examples of 'religion' in a sentence
religion
No inferiority complex in we British, boyo; arrogance is our religion.
Forbes, Bryan A SONG AT TWILIGHT (2002)
That's rather terrible, isn't it - using religion lire that.
Barnard, Robert THE DISPOSAL OF THE LIVING (2002)
People like him aren't curable, unless perhaps they get religion.
Ferrars, Elizabeth THY BROTHER DEATH (2002)
Boyd did six years in a federal penitentiary for refusing to pay his income tax, came out and found religion.
Elmore Leonard WHEN THE WOMEN COME OUT TO DANCE (2002)
Quotations
Religion is by no means a proper subject of conversation in a mixed companyEarl of Chesterfield
There is only one religion, though there are a hundred versions of itGeorge Bernard ShawPlays Unpleasant (preface)
Religion enables us to ignore nothingness and get on with the jobs of lifeJohn UpdikeSelf-Consciousness
I count religion but a childish toy, And hold there is no sin but ignoranceChristopher MarloweThe Jew of Malta
Religion...is the opium of the peopleKarl MarxCritique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right
Things have come to a pretty pass when religion is allowed to invade the sphere of private lifeLord Melbourne
The true meaning of religion is thus not morality, but morality touched by emotionMatthew ArnoldLiterature and Dogma
Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blindAlbert EinsteinOut of My Later Years
Any system of religion that has any thing in it that shocks the mind of a child cannot be a true systemThomas PaineThe Age of Reason
I am a Millionaire. That is my religionGeorge Bernard ShawMajor Barbara
I can't talk religion to a man with bodily hunger in his eyesGeorge Bernard ShawMajor Barbara
We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one anotherJonathan SwiftThoughts on Various Subjects
I am for religion against religionsVictor HugoLes Misérables
Time consecrates; And what is grey with age becomes religionFriedrich von SchillerDie Piccolomini
One religion is as true as anotherRobert BurtonAnatomy of Melancholy
Christians have burnt each other, quite persuaded That all the apostles would have done as they didLord ByronDon Juan
To become a popular religion, it is only necessary for a superstition to enslave a philosophyDean IngeIdea of Progress
Religion's in the heart, not in the kneesDouglas JerroldThe Devil's Ducat
Religion is the frozen thought of men out of which they build templesJiddu Krishnamurti
In other languages
religion
British English: religion /rɪˈlɪdʒən/ NOUN
Religion is belief in a god or gods.
He studies religion and philosophy.
American English: religion
Arabic: دِين
Brazilian Portuguese: religião
Chinese: 宗教
Croatian: religija
Czech: náboženství
Danish: religion
Dutch: religie
European Spanish: religión
Finnish: uskonto
French: religion
German: Religion
Greek: θρησκεία
Italian: religione
Japanese: 宗教
Korean: 종교
Norwegian: religion
Polish: religia
European Portuguese: religião
Romanian: religie
Russian: религия
Latin American Spanish: religión
Swedish: religion
Thai: ศาสนา
Turkish: din
Ukrainian: релігія
Vietnamese: tôn giáo
All related terms of 'religion'
folk religion
Religion is belief in a god or gods and the activities that are connected with this belief, such as praying or worshipping in a building such as a church or temple .
get religion
If you say that someone has got religion , you are referring in a mocking way to the fact that they have suddenly decided to follow a particular religion.
true religion
Religion is belief in a god or gods and the activities that are connected with this belief, such as praying or worshipping in a building such as a church or temple .
civil religion
Religion is belief in a god or gods and the activities that are connected with this belief, such as praying or worshipping in a building such as a church or temple .
state religion
the official religion of a state as established by law
eastern religion
Religion is belief in a god or gods and the activities that are connected with this belief, such as praying or worshipping in a building such as a church or temple .
natural religion
religion based on principles derived solely from reason and the study of nature
organized religion
institutionalized religion, usually with a hierarchical clergy and rules to govern the means by which adherents participate
practise religion
Religion is belief in a god or gods and the activities that are connected with this belief, such as praying or worshipping in a building such as a church or temple .
revealed religion
religion based on the revelation by God to humankind of ideas that would not have been arrived at by natural reason alone
comparative religion
a field of study seeking to derive general principles from a comparison and classification of the growth and influence of various religions
Chinese translation of 'religion'
religion
(rɪˈlɪdʒən)
n
(u) (= belief) 宗教信仰 (zōngjiào xìnyǎng)
(c) (= set of beliefs) 宗教 (zōngjiào) (种(種), zhǒng)
(noun)
Definition
any formal expression of such belief
his understanding of Indian philosophy and religion
Synonyms
belief
He refuses to compete on Sundays because of his religious beliefs.
faith
England shifted officially from a Catholic to a Protestant faith in the 16th century.
doctrine
the Marxist doctrine of perpetual revolution
theology
creed
The centre is open to all, no matter what race or creed.
divinity
He entered university to study arts and divinity.
teaching
related words
related maniaentheomania
see also subject word lists:
See BibleSee BuddhismSee ChristianitySee HinduismSee IslamSee Judaism
subject word lists
See ReligionsSee Religious booksSee Religious buildingsSee Religious clothingSee Religious festivals
Quotations
Religion is by no means a proper subject of conversation in a mixed company [Earl of Chesterfield]There is only one religion, though there are a hundred versions of it [George Bernard Shaw – Plays Unpleasant (preface)]Religion enables us to ignore nothingness and get on with the jobs of life [John Updike – Self-Consciousness]I count religion but a childish toy, And hold there is no sin but ignorance [Christopher Marlowe – The Jew of Malta]Religion...is the opium of the people [Karl Marx – Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right]Things have come to a pretty pass when religion is allowed to invade the sphere of private life [Lord Melbourne]The true meaning of religion is thus not morality, but morality touched by emotion [Matthew Arnold – Literature and Dogma]Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind [Albert Einstein – Out of My Later Years]Any system of religion that has any thing in it that shocks the mind of a child cannot be a true system [Thomas Paine – The Age of Reason]I am a Millionaire. That is my religion [George Bernard Shaw – Major Barbara]I can't talk religion to a man with bodily hunger in his eyes [George Bernard Shaw – Major Barbara]We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another [Jonathan Swift – Thoughts on Various Subjects]I am for religion against religions [Victor Hugo – Les Misérables]Time consecrates; And what is grey with age becomes religion [Friedrich von Schiller – Die Piccolomini]One religion is as true as another [Robert Burton – Anatomy of Melancholy]Christians have burnt each other, quite persuaded That all the apostles would have done as they did [Lord Byron – Don Juan]To become a popular religion, it is only necessary for a superstition to enslave a philosophy [Dean Inge – Idea of Progress]Religion's in the heart, not in the knees [Douglas Jerrold – The Devil's Ducat]Religion is the frozen thought of men out of which they build temples [Jiddu Krishnamurti]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of creed
Definition
a system of beliefs or principles
The centre is open to all, no matter what race or creed.
Synonyms
belief,
principles,
profession,
doctrine,
canon,
persuasion,
dogma,
tenet,
credo,
catechism,
articles of faith
in the sense of divinity
Definition
the study of religion
He entered university to study arts and divinity.
Synonyms
theology,
religion,
religious studies
in the sense of doctrine
Definition
a principle or body of principles that is taught or advocated
the Marxist doctrine of perpetual revolution
Synonyms
teaching,
principle,
belief,
opinion,
article,
concept,
conviction,
canon,
creed,
dogma,
tenet,
precept,
article of faith,
kaupapa (New Zealand)
Synonyms of 'religion'
religion
Explore 'religion' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of faith
Definition
a specific system of religious beliefs
England shifted officially from a Catholic to a Protestant faith in the 16th century.