religious

[towcats1]

Hi. Is it possible to use the word "religious" as a noun? I come across this definition "religious- noun. , plural re·li·gious. a member of a religious order, congregation, etc.; a monk, friar, or nun." "

 

[5jj]

Yes.

 

[Tarheel]

www.onelook.com

 

[jutfrank]

Yes.

Could you provide an example sentence?

 

[Tarheel]

The only one I have found is about a man was going to be burned alive because he had two religious in his house.

 

[5jj]

Could you provide an example sentence?

As a young religious, Bishop-elect Lombardo did missionary work in Bolivia and Honduras.
.—Laura Rodríguez Presa, chicagotribune.com, 11 Sep. 2020.

Definition of RELIGIOUS

relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity; of, relating to, or devoted to religious beliefs or observances; scrupulously and conscientiously faithful… See the full definition

www.merriam-webster.com

 

[emsr2d2]

Until today, I had never come across "religious" as a noun. It strikes me that it's probably rather outdated. I'd discourage you from using it as anything other than an adjective.

 

[teechar]

Funny enough, I actually did come across it sometime over the past year or so. I think there's a need for it because it encompasses a group wider than just the (official) clergy/nuns/monastics.

 

[Rover_KE]

Until today, I had never come across "religious" as a noun.

I was about to write exactly the same thing, and was interested to see that so many dictionaries endorse it. Whilst the stated plural (I met three religious) sounds odd, three religiouses would sound even odder.

I'm not really very surprised though, became I became aware long ago at grammar school in the 50s that religieuse is the French word for nun, and pluralising it by adding s makes no difference to the pronunciation, so that works fine for them.

I'd discourage you from using it as anything other than an adjective.

Again, I agree entirely -- most people will think it's a mistake.

 

[John Steve]

Hi. Is it possible to use the word "religious" as a noun? I come across this definition "religious- noun. , plural re·li·gious. a member of a religious order, congregation, etc.; a monk, friar, or nun." "

Not a teacher

You can use the word religious as a noun in a sentence. Here are a few examples.
1- Dawud Academy is a religious school which offers free courses in Islamic history, Arabic and Quran.
2- The religious gathered at the monastery for their morning prayers.
3- She dedicated her life to becoming a religious in the Catholic Church.

 

[MikeCL]

You can use the word religious as a noun in a sentence. Here are a few examples.
1- Dawud Academy is a religious school which offers free courses in Islamic history, Arabic and Quran.
2- The religious gathered at the monastery for their morning prayers.
3- She dedicated her life to becoming a religious in the Catholic Church.

I think you have made a mistake. The word religious in the first sentence is used as an adjective.

 

[5jj]

You can use the word religious as a noun in a sentence.

We have already established that. We have also established that it is so uncommon that some native speakers do not know it.

Here are a few examples.
1- Dawud Academy is a religious school which offers free courses in Islamic history, Arabic and Quran.

The word is an adjective in that sentence.

2- The religious gathered at the monastery for their morning prayers.

The noun there refers to more than one person,

3- She dedicated her life to becoming a religious in the Catholic Church.

That is OK.

Please note that you need to add 'Not a teacher' if you respond to questions in the 'Ask a Teacher' forum

 

[John Steve]

The noun there refers to more than one person,


But that makes it a noun, right?

 

[5jj]

Yes, but we have been talking mainly about its singular use, as in ' a member of a religious order, congregation, etc.; a monk, friar, or nun.'

 

[teechar]

I think you have made a mistake.

And I think you have too. Please correct the info you provided on your profile.

 

[emsr2d2]

Not a teacher

You can use the word religious as a noun in a sentence. Here are a few examples.
1- Dawud Academy is a religious school which offers free courses in Islamic history, Arabic and Quran.
2- The religious gathered at the monastery for their morning prayers.
3- She dedicated her life to becoming a religious in the Catholic Church.

@John Steve Now that you have corrected your profile information, it's clear that you are neither a native English speaker nor a teacher. As such, whenever you attempt to respond to/help other learners, you must make that clear. I have added "Not a teacher" at the start of post #10 on your behalf. Please make sure you do it yourself in future responses. If you prefer, you can make it your signature line.