devout
dih-VOWT
/dɪˈvaʊt/
Deeply religious; totally committed to a cause, belief, or lifestyle.
Can describe sincere religious piety or, in a secular sense, an unwavering, passionate commitment to a hobby, belief, or person.
The story behind the word. Devout comes from the Latin devotus, the past participle of devovere, which means to dedicate by a vow. It is made of de- (down, formally) and vovere (to vow). Originally, it described someone who had bound themselves to a deity or a course of action by a solemn, unbreakable promise.
Word relationships
- pious: Pious also means deeply religious, but it can sometimes carry a negative connotation of self-righteousness or hypocritical display, which devout does not.
- dedicated: Committed to a task or purpose, but lacks the spiritual intensity or deep personal reverence implied by devout.
- impious: Lacking reverence or respect for sacred things.
- apathetic: Showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
Commonly confused with
- religious: Religious simply means relating to religion or practicing a faith, while devout emphasizes the depth, sincerity, and intensity of that practice.
Word family
- devoutly (adverb): In a deeply committed or religious manner.
- devoutness (noun): The quality of being deeply committed or pious.
Collocations
- devout believer
- devout follower
- devout prayer
- devoutly hope
Example sentences
- "As devout believers, they never missed the weekly services at their local temple." Describing a deeply religious family.
- "She was a devout follower of the indie film scene, attending every festival she could." A secular use describing an intense fan or supporter.
Memory hook
A devout person has made a deep vow (de-vow-t) to live a holy life. Committed by a deep vow.
When not to use
Do not use to describe someone who is merely polite or occasionally participates in religious events without deep personal commitment.
Fun facts
- In ancient Rome, a general could perform the 'devotio,' a ritual vow where he sacrificed his own life to the gods of the underworld in exchange for victory for his army.
Related words
Also appears in
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