Shinto

noun

Shin·​to ˈshin-(ˌ)tō How to pronounce Shinto (audio)
: the indigenous religion of Japan consisting chiefly in the cultic devotion to deities of natural forces and veneration of the Emperor as a descendant of the sun goddess
Shinto adjective
Shintoism noun
Shintoist noun or adjective
Shintoistic adjective

Examples of Shinto in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As for spirituality and fitness, Mangione called for the revival of traditional Japanese activities such as onsen (hot springs), the Shinto religion and karate. Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024 This historic location has seen centuries of transformation—from a Hawaiian fishing village and a bustling 19th-century harbor to a Japanese fishing hub with a Shinto shrine, Maui’s first commercial airport, and even a WWII training site. Jenn Rice, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024 Torii gates, structures found at the entrance of Shinto shrines across Japan, symbolize the transition from the mundane to the sacred. Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 14 Nov. 2024 Torii gates are iconic structures that mark the boundary between the everyday and the sacred at Shinto shrines across Japan. Arata Yamamoto, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for Shinto 

Word History

Etymology

Japanese shintō

First Known Use

1727, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Shinto was in 1727

Dictionary Entries Near Shinto

Cite this Entry

“Shinto.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Shinto. Accessed 27 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

Shinto

noun
Shin·​to ˈshin-tō How to pronounce Shinto (audio)
: a religion native to Japan

More from Merriam-Webster on Shinto

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!