in a general sense, something that relates to religion.—We say, a religious life, religious society, &c.—Churches and church-yards are religious places.—A religious war is also called a croisade. See Croisade.

Religious, is also used substantially for a person engaged by solemn vows to the monastic life; or a person shut up in a monastery to lead a life of devotion and austerity, under some rule or institution. The male religious we popularly call monks and friars; the female, nuns and canonesses.