spiritual
gb/spˈɪɹɪt͡ʃuəl/ us/spˈɪɹɪt͡ʃuəl/
B1
English
~ 3800
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Relating to religion or the soul
About religion or the part of a person that is not the body.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is spiritual
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'spiritual' with 'religious'. 'Spiritual' can include religion but can also mean personal beliefs about life and the soul without formal religion.
Synonyms
religious (Focuses more on organized religion and practices rather than the broader idea of the spirit.)
|
sacred (Emphasizes holiness or being set apart for religious purposes.)
Antonyms
materialistic (Focused on physical possessions and wealth rather than the spirit or soul.)
Collocations
spiritual life
|spiritual journey
|spiritual leader
|spiritual growth
|spiritual practice
Themes
religion
|beliefs
|philosophy
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She follows a spiritual path that blends meditation and prayer.
- The retreat offered a chance for deep spiritual reflection.
- He feels a strong spiritual connection when walking in nature.
- Spiritual beliefs often influence moral choices.
- The book explores the spiritual side of human life.
Learner examples
- He is a spiritual man who prays every day.
- They went on a spiritual trip to the mountains.
- She wants to learn more about her spiritual side.
- The teacher spoke about spiritual values.
- I am reading a book on spiritual life.
Noun
B2
entity
2
Religious folk song from African American tradition
A type of religious song that came from African American history.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'spiritual' (song) with 'spiritual' (adjective). Context usually makes clear which meaning is intended.
Synonyms
hymn (A general term for a song of praise, often used in church services, but not specific to African American tradition.)
Collocations
sing a spiritual
|traditional spirituals
|African American spirituals
Themes
music
|religion
|culture
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The choir performed a moving spiritual during the service.
- She learned several traditional spirituals from her grandmother.
- That spiritual has been passed down through generations of singers.
Learner examples
- They sang a spiritual at church.
- I like to listen to old spirituals.
- He learned a spiritual from his family.
- The group sang a famous spiritual.
- We studied spirituals in music class.
Grammar
Dictionary form
spiritual
IPA
GB/spˈɪɹɪt͡ʃuəl/
US/spˈɪɹɪt͡ʃuəl/
Syllables & stress
spir - itu - al (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (spir)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: spiritual
Noun
- Base: spiritual
- Plural: spirituals
Word family
Forms
spirituals
noun
Core family
Related words
spirited
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unspiritual
adjective
secular
adjective B2
Advanced or less common
spiritualism
noun
spiritualist
noun
Expressions
spiritual growth
1/spˈɪɹɪt͡ʃuəl ɡɹˈoʊθ/
fixed phrase
Development in spiritual understanding
The process of becoming stronger in your beliefs or spirit.
Examples
- Meditation has helped him achieve significant spiritual growth.
- She sees travel as an opportunity for spiritual growth.
spiritual journey
1/spˈɪɹɪt͡ʃuəl d͡ʒˈɚni/
fixed phrase
Process of personal spiritual growth
A person's experience of learning more about their spirit or beliefs.
Examples
- Her travels became part of a long spiritual journey toward self-understanding.
- He describes his recovery as a spiritual journey.
spiritual leader
1/spˈɪɹɪt͡ʃuəl lˈidɚ/
fixed phrase
Person who guides others spiritually
A person who helps others with their religion or beliefs.
Examples
- The Dalai Lama is considered a great spiritual leader.
- She became a spiritual leader in her community after years of study.