What is the Latin word for religious?

The usual Latin words for “religious” are religiōsus, pius, sānctus; also attineō, dīvīnus, sacer. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“religious” in Latin

religiōsuspious, devout, religious; scrupulous; sacred, taboo piuspious, devout; dutiful, loyal, conscientious; good, blessed sānctussacred, made inviolable, having been established as sacred.; sanctified or made holy; venerable, august, divine, blessed attineōto bring or hold to or near; to hold fast, keep, detain, hold back, delay; to hold possession of, retain, occupy, preser dīvīnusdivine, of a deity, superhuman, supernatural sacersacred, holy, dedicated (to a divinity), consecrated, hallowed (translating Greek ἱερός); devoted (to a divinity for sac addīcōto be propitious to, favour, speak favourably (of); to attribute, assign or ascribe something to someone; appoint, desig

The English word religious itself goes back to Latin religō, through religiōsus.

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

religious

Influenced by religion, religiosus: pius: sanctus. (The words are found in this connection and order.) sanctus piusque; religiosus sanctusque; sanctus et religiosus [SYN. in PIOUS].

Relating to religion, ad religionem, ad sacra, attinens; de rebus sacris or divinis: a religious book, *liber praecepta de rebus divinis continens; *liber, qui est de rebus sacris: religious zeal, *studium religionis, pietatis: religious liberty, *libera quo ritu velis Deum colendi potestas; *sacra omnia libera, nominative plur.,: a religious peace, *pax de religionibus conventa (not pax religiosa): a religious ceremony, ritus sacer; caerimonia: a religious war, bellum pro religionibus suis susceptum (after Cic., Font., 9, 20). A religious teacher, *qui tradit praecepta, decreta, doctrinae sacrae: a religious opinion, sententia, opinio, ad res sacras, divinas, attinens: a religious party, *religionis (or legis; e.g., Christianae) studiosi: founder of a religious party, conditor sacri (Vid: Liv., 39, 17, § 7): a religious matter or question, *res ad religionem, ad sacra, attinens, spectans: a religious system, *sacrorum ratio, formula; or, in a wider sense, *sacrarum caerimoniarum et institutionum divinarum complexus. A religious custom or practice, *usus sacrorum, plur.; quae ad cultum dei (deorum) attinent: religious instruction, *institutio religionis; *institutio ad religionem, ad res sacras, spectans. To give religious instruction in a school, *praecepta legis, religionis Christianae in schola tradere; *praeceptis doctrinae Christianae instituere discipulos: a religious constitution, *instituta ad res sacras or divinas pertinentia, spectantia: religious truth, *sacrorum, doctrinae sacrae veritas: a religious truth, *praeceptum, decretum, sacrum: religious despotism, *sacrorum jus imminutum, negatum; to exercise it, *dominari velle in sacris: religious toleration or moderation, *animus aliorum de rebus divinis opiniones leniter ferens.

Belonging to an order of monks, etc., *ordini religioso, sacro, addictus.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for religious?: The usual Latin words for “religious” are religiōsus, pius, sānctus; also attineō, dīvīnus, sacer. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.