noun
religion
rih-LIHJ-uhn
noun
1
Belief in a god or gods, along with the practices and rituals connected to that belief.
"Religion plays a central role in many people's daily lives."
"The country recognises several major religions."
2
A particular system of religious belief and worship.
"Buddhism and Islam are two of the world's major religions."
How to Use Religion
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA system of belief in the divine, along with its rituals and communities of followers.
Common pairings
practice a religion
freedom of religion
organised religion
Word Forms
religioned past tense, religions plural, religions singular
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Etymology
From Old French religion, from Latin religio, "reverence for the sacred, conscientiousness" — possibly linked to religare, "to bind," though this connection is debated.