soul

1 of 2

noun

ˈsōl 

1

: the immaterial essence, animating principle, or actuating cause of an individual life

2

a

: the spiritual principle embodied in human beings, all rational and spiritual beings, or the universe

b

capitalized Christian Science : god sense 1b

3

: a person's total self

4

a

: an active or essential part

b

: a moving spirit : leader

5

a

: the moral and emotional nature of human beings

b

: the quality that arouses emotion and sentiment

c

: spiritual or moral force : fervor

6

: person

not a soul in sight

7

: personification

she is the soul of integrity

8

a

: a strong positive feeling (as of intense sensitivity and emotional fervor) conveyed especially by African American performers

b

: cultural consciousness and pride among people of African heritage

c

: soul music

d

: soul food

e

: soul brother

soul

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or characteristic of Black Americans or their culture

It will feature various local musicians such as Faithe, Rashawn Stallworth and Jamal Steele, all who embody a hip-hop and soul style to their music.

—Kamal Morgan

see also soul brother, soul food, soul music, soul sister

Synonyms

Noun

• psyche
• spirit

Examples of soul in a Sentence

Noun

the souls of the dead

He could not escape the guilt that he felt in the inner recesses of his soul.

Some poor soul was asking for handouts on the street.

a village of barely a hundred souls

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Tipping a hat to Istanbul’s multicultural soul, antiques and vintage finds from markets around the world add yet another layer of sophistication. —Pratyush Sarup, Architectural Digest, 14 Dec. 2024

Next door, Billboard Onboard is a singalong piano bar, and just down the hall is B.B. King’s Blues Club, which pumps blistering soul, rock, and blues, with the addition of a classical string quartet on longer European sailings. —David Swanson, Travel + Leisure, 14 Dec. 2024

Adjective

Baby Rose took the mic next for a set of songs that spotlit her striking, jazzy vibrato tones and her warm neo-soul production alike. —Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2023

On her debut album, the U.K. songstress’s soulful voice is transportive, atop a bed of neo-soul perfection. —Cydney Lee, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English soule, from Old English sāwol; akin to Old High German sēula soul

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1969, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing soul

• bare one's soul
• bless my soul
• body and soul
• in/from the depths of someone's heart/soul/being
• keep body and soul together
• lost soul
• pour one's heart/soul out
• pour out one's heart/soul
• sell one's soul (to the devil)
• sensitive soul
• soul brother
• soul-destroying
• soul food
• soul kiss
• soul mate
• soul music
• soul patch
• soul-searching
• soul sister
• the life and soul of the party
• the soul of discretion
• world soul

Kids Definition

soul

1 of 2 noun

ˈsōl 

1

: the spiritual part of a person believed to give life to the body and in many religions thought to live forever

2

a

: the necessary part of something

b

: a person who leads or stirs others to action : leader

the soul of the campaign

3

a

: the part of one's personality having to do with feelings and the sense of what is right and wrong

felt my soul rebel against injustice

b

: spiritual force : fervor

4

: person

a kind soul

5

a

: a strong positive feeling conveyed especially by Black American performers

b

: soul music

souled

ˈsōld

adjective

soul

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of or relating to Black Americans or their culture

soul food

2

: designed for or controlled by Black people

soul radio stations