1. the belief in and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a God or gods: "ideas about the relationship between science and religion"
▪ a particular system of faith and worship: "the world's great religions"
▪ a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance:"consumerism is the new religion"
Word OriginMiddle English (originally in the sense ‘life under monastic vows’): from Old French, or from Latin religio(n-) ‘obligation, bond, reverence’, perhaps based on Latin religare ‘to bind’.