Religious songs of African American origin, typically associated with the oral tradition of enslaved people in the United States, characterized by their emotional depth and use of biblical themes.
The choir sang spirituals that moved the congregation to tears.
spiritualnoun
A religious song of a kind associated with black Christians of the southern US, and thought to derive from the combination of European hymns and African musical elements.
The choir sang a moving spiritual that brought tears to the eyes of the congregation.
Matters or concerns relating to the spirit, soul, or religious life, regarded collectively (usually preceded by "the").
She devoted her energies to the spiritual rather than the material.