religion
noun
re·li·gion ri-ˈli-jən 
1
: a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
2
a(1)
: the service and worship of God or the supernatural
(2)
: commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
b
: the state of a religious
a nun in her 20th year of religion
3
: a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith
4
archaic : scrupulous conformity : conscientiousness
religionless
ri-ˈli-jən-ləs
adjective 
Synonyms
- credo
- creed
- cult
- faith
- persuasion
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Many people turn to religion for comfort in a time of crisis. There are many religions, such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. Shinto is a religion that is unique to Japan. Hockey is a religion in Canada. Politics are a religion to him. Where I live, high school football is religion. Food is religion in this house. See More
Recent Examples on the Web The projections, released in a report Tuesday, used surveys and other data to figure out what religion in America would look like in the next 50 years. 
Joseph Pisani, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 Using mathematical models, Pew has also projected the future of religion around the world. The Salt Lake Tribune, 13 Sep. 2022 Despite his reputation for provocative celebrity portraits, LaChapelle doesn't use religion subversively, but earnestly in his work. Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 12 Sep. 2022 Alithea embodies the onus of the modern, white West — her globalist yearning rejects religion. Armond White, National Review, 7 Sep. 2022 His spin swaps Genesis for the creation story of the syncretic Afro-Cuban religion La Regla de Ocha-Ifá (also called Santería). Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 For many of the majority Hindu religion, the day represents the end of colonialism and the birth of India as an independent nation that became the world’s largest democracy. Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2022 Obviously, it’s one of the oldest metaphors in literature and religion — the primal metaphor of Christianity. Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Sep. 2022 But after a scandal forces their church to temporarily close, these two must rebuild their congregation to make the biggest comeback that commodified religion has ever seen. Orlando Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2022 See More
Joseph Pisani, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 Using mathematical models, Pew has also projected the future of religion around the world. The Salt Lake Tribune, 13 Sep. 2022 Despite his reputation for provocative celebrity portraits, LaChapelle doesn't use religion subversively, but earnestly in his work. Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 12 Sep. 2022 Alithea embodies the onus of the modern, white West — her globalist yearning rejects religion. Armond White, National Review, 7 Sep. 2022 His spin swaps Genesis for the creation story of the syncretic Afro-Cuban religion La Regla de Ocha-Ifá (also called Santería). Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 For many of the majority Hindu religion, the day represents the end of colonialism and the birth of India as an independent nation that became the world’s largest democracy. Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2022 Obviously, it’s one of the oldest metaphors in literature and religion — the primal metaphor of Christianity. Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Sep. 2022 But after a scandal forces their church to temporarily close, these two must rebuild their congregation to make the biggest comeback that commodified religion has ever seen. Orlando Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English religioun, from Anglo-French religiun, Latin religion-, religio supernatural constraint, sanction, religious practice, perhaps from religare to restrain, tie back — more at rely
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2b
Phrases Containing religion
Kids Definition
religion
noun
re·li·gion ri-ˈli-jən
1
: the belief in and worship of God or gods
2
: a system of religious beliefs and practices
religions
noun
as in cults
a body of beliefs and practices regarding the supernatural and the worship of one or more deities the Jewish religion has followers in many parts of the globe Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- cults
- faiths
- persuasions
- sects
- creeds
- denominations
- theologies
- churches
- communions
- doctrines
- credos
- monotheisms
- paganisms
- polytheisms
- dogmas
- theisms
- dogmata
- pantheisms
- deisms
- heathenisms
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- agnosticism
- atheisms
- secularisms
- nonbeliefs
- know-nothingisms