unspiritual
|un-spi-rit-u-al|
🇺🇸
/ˌʌnˈspɪrɪtʃuəl/
🇬🇧
/ˌʌnˈspɪrɪtjʊəl/
not in a spiritual way
Etymology
'unspiritual' is formed in English by adding the negative prefix 'un-' (not) to 'spiritual', where 'spiritual' ultimately comes from Latin 'spiritus' meaning 'breath' or 'spirit'.
'spiritual' came into English via Old French 'spirituel' and Medieval Latin 'spiritualis', itself from Latin 'spiritus'. The English negative formation 'un-' + 'spiritual' produced 'unspiritual' in Modern English to denote the opposite quality.
Originally Latin 'spiritus' referred to 'breath' or 'life force'; over time it acquired a religious or immaterial sense ('spirit'), and 'spiritual' came to mean 'relating to spirit or religion'. 'Unspiritual' developed to mean 'not possessing or concerned with those spiritual qualities' and, by extension, 'materialistic' or 'worldly'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not relating to, concerned with, or showing religious or spiritual matters; lacking spiritual qualities.
His unspiritual attitude made him indifferent to the rites and prayers of the community.
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Adjective 2
characterized by a concern for material or worldly things rather than for spiritual matters; materialistic or lacking deeper inspiration.
The novel criticizes an unspiritual pursuit of wealth at the expense of personal relationships.
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Last updated: 2026/01/14 16:05