Spirit vs. Mind — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 27, 2023
"Spirit" refers to the vital force or essence, often linked to emotions or soul. "Mind" pertains to intellect, thoughts, and cognitive functions.
Difference Between Spirit and Mind
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
The terms "Spirit" and "Mind" both relate to the intangible aspects of a person. However, they signify different dimensions of human existence. The "Spirit" often denotes the life force, essence, or the soul of a being, encompassing emotions, consciousness, and sometimes religious or spiritual beliefs. On the other hand, the "Mind" typically signifies the cognitive faculties, which include intellect, reasoning, memory, and perception.
When discussing spirituality, one may delve into the essence of the "Spirit," addressing matters of faith, the soul, or even the ethereal connection between living things. In contrast, discussions about the "Mind" tend to revolve around mental processes, thought patterns, and intellectual endeavors. It might encompass topics like psychology, cognition, and neuroscience.
A person's "Spirit" might be invigorated by moments of passion, inspiration, or profound experiences. These moments touch the core of our being, elevating our emotions and essence. The "Mind," conversely, gets stimulated by intellectual challenges, learning, and analytical thinking. It processes information, makes decisions, and helps in rationalizing our experiences.
Comparison Chart
Nature
Ethereal, essence, soul
Cognitive faculties, intellect
Associated Fields
Spirituality, religion, soul
Psychology, neuroscience, cognition
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Function
Gives life, consciousness, emotion
Thinks, reasons, processes information
Stimulation
By passion, inspiration, faith
By learning, challenges, analysis
Connection to Body
Often seen as transcending the body
Closely linked to the brain's functions
Compare with Definitions
Spirit
A particular attitude or mood.
She did it in the spirit of helping others.
Mind
Intellectual capacity.
She has one of the sharpest minds in the industry.
Spirit
A supernatural being.
Legends speak of spirits that guard the ancient temple.
Mind
A person's memory or ability to remember.
The song brought memories flooding back to his mind.
Spirit
The non-physical part of a person which is the seat of emotions and character; the soul
We seek a harmony between body and spirit
Mind
One's opinion, viewpoint, or will.
If you don't mind, I'd like to leave early.
Spirit
The prevailing or typical quality, mood, or attitude of a person, group, or period of time
I hope the team will build on this spirit of confidence
The university is a symbol of the nation's egalitarian spirit
Mind
The mind is the set of faculties responsible for mental phenomena. Often the term is also identified with the phenomena themselves.
Spirit
Strong distilled alcoholic drink such as brandy, whisky, gin, or rum.
Mind
The faculty of a human or other animal by which it thinks, perceives, feels, remembers, or desires
Studying the relation between the brain and the mind.
Spirit
A highly refined substance or fluid thought to govern vital phenomena.
Mind
A person of great mental ability
The great minds of the century.
Spirit
Convey rapidly and secretly
Stolen cows were spirited away some distance to prevent detection
Mind
Individual consciousness, memory, or recollection
I'll bear the problem in mind.
Spirit
A force or principle believed to animate living beings.
Mind
Opinion or sentiment
He changed his mind when he heard all the facts.
Spirit
A force or principle believed to animate humans and often to endure after departing from the body of a person at death; the soul.
Mind
Desire or inclination
She had a mind to spend her vacation in the desert.
Spirit
Spirit The Holy Spirit.
Mind
Focus of thought; attention
I can't keep my mind on work.
Spirit
An angel or demon.
Mind
A healthy mental state; sanity
Losing one's mind.
Spirit
A being inhabiting or embodying a particular place, object, or natural phenomenon.
Mind
The thought processes characteristic of a person or group; psychological makeup
The criminal mind.
The public mind.
Spirit
A fairy or sprite.
Mind
(Philosophy) The phenomena of intelligence, cognition, or consciousness, regarded as a material or immaterial aspect of reality.
Spirit
The part of a human associated with the mind, will, and feelings
Though unable to join us today, they are with us in spirit.
Mind
To pay attention to
Mind closely what I tell you.
Spirit
The essential nature of a person or group.
Mind
To be careful about
Mind the icy sidewalk!.
Spirit
A person as characterized by a stated quality
He is a proud spirit.
Mind
To heed in order to obey
The children minded their babysitter.
Spirit
An inclination or tendency of a specified kind
Her actions show a generous spirit.
Mind
To take care or charge of; look after
We minded the children while their parents went out.
Spirit
A pervasive or essential attitude, quality, or principle
The spirit of 1776.
Mind
The capability for rational thought.
Despite advancing age, his mind was still as sharp as ever.
Spirit
An attitude marked by enthusiasm, energy, or courage
Sang with spirit.
Troops that fought with spirit.
Mind
The ability to be aware of things.
There was no doubt in his mind that they would win.
Spirit
Spirits A mood or emotional state
The guests were in high spirits. His sour spirits put a damper on the gathering.
Mind
The ability to remember things.
My mind just went blank.
Spirit
Strong loyalty or dedication
Team spirit.
Mind
The ability to focus the thoughts.
I can’t keep my mind on what I’m doing.
Spirit
The actual though unstated sense or significance of something
The spirit of the law.
Mind
Somebody that embodies certain mental qualities.
He was one of history’s greatest minds.
Spirit
Often spirits (used with a sing. verb) An alcohol solution of an essential or volatile substance.
Mind
Judgment, opinion, or view.
He changed his mind after hearing the speech.
Spirit
Spirits An alcoholic beverage, especially distilled liquor.
Mind
Desire, inclination, or intention.
She had a mind to go to Paris.
I have half a mind to do it myself.
I am of a mind to listen.
Spirit
To carry off mysteriously or secretly
The documents had been spirited away.
Mind
A healthy mental state.
I, ______ being of sound mind and body, do herebynb...
You are losing your mind.
Spirit
To impart courage, animation, or determination to; inspirit.
Mind
(philosophy) The non-material substance or set of processes in which consciousness, perception, affectivity, judgement, thinking, and will are based.
The mind is a process of the brain.
Spirit
The soul of a person or other creature.
Mind
Continual prayer on a dead person's behalf for a period after their death.
A month's [or monthly] mind; a year's mind
Spirit
A supernatural being, often but not exclusively without physical form; ghost, fairy, angel.
A wandering spirit haunts the island.
Mind
(uncountable) Attention, consideration or thought.
Spirit
Enthusiasm.
School spirit is at an all-time high.
Mind
To bring or recall to mind; to remember; bear or keep in mind.
Spirit
The manner or style of something.
In the spirit of forgiveness, we didn't press charges.
Mind
To remember.
Spirit
A volatile liquid, such as alcohol. The plural form spirits is a generic term for distilled alcoholic beverages.
Mind
To remind; put one's mind on.
Spirit
Energy; ardour.
Mind
To turn one's mind to; to observe; to notice.
Spirit
One who is vivacious or lively; one who evinces great activity or peculiar characteristics of mind or temper.
A ruling spirit; a schismatic spirit
Mind
To regard with attention; to treat as of consequence.
Spirit
Temper or disposition of mind; mental condition or disposition; intellectual or moral state.
To be cheerful, or in good spirits; to be down-hearted, or in bad spirits
Mind
To pay attention or heed to so as to obey; hence to obey; to make sure, to take care (that).
Mind you don't knock that glass over.
Spirit
(obsolete) Air set in motion by breathing; breath; hence, sometimes, life itself.
Mind
To pay attention to, in the sense of occupying one's mind with, to heed.
You should mind your own business.
Spirit
(obsolete) A rough breathing; an aspirate, such as the letter h; also, a mark denoting aspiration.
Mind
To look after, to take care of, especially for a short period of time.
Would you mind my bag for me?
Spirit
Intent; real meaning; opposed to the letter, or formal statement.
The spirit of an enterprise, or of a document
Mind
To be careful about.
Spirit
Any of the four substances: sulphur, sal ammoniac, quicksilver, and arsenic (or, according to some, orpiment).
Mind
To purpose, intend, plan.
Spirit
(dyeing) Stannic chloride.
Mind
Take note; used to point out an exception or caveat.
I'm not very healthy. I do eat fruit sometimes, mind.
Spirit
To carry off, especially in haste, secrecy, or mystery.
Mind
(originally and chiefly in negative or interrogative constructions) To dislike, to object to; to be bothered by.
I wouldn't mind an ice cream right now.
Do you mind if I smoke?
Spirit
Sometimes followed by up: to animate with vigour; to excite; to encourage; to inspirit.
Civil dissensions often spirit the ambition of private men.
Mind
The intellectual or rational faculty in man; the understanding; the intellect; the power that conceives, judges, or reasons; also, the entire spiritual nature; the soul; - often in distinction from the body.
By the mind of man we understand that in him which thinks, remembers, reasons, wills.
What we mean by mind is simply that which perceives, thinks, feels, wills, and desires.
Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
The mind shall banquet, though the body pine.
Spirit
Air set in motion by breathing; breath; hence, sometimes, life itself.
The mild air, with season moderate,Gently attempered, and disposed eo well,That still it breathed foorth sweet spirit.
Mind
The state, at any given time, of the faculties of thinking, willing, choosing, and the like; psychical activity or state;
A fool uttereth all his mind.
Being so hard to me that brought your mind, I fear she'll prove as hard to you in telling her mind.
Spirit
A rough breathing; an aspirate, as the letter h; also, a mark to denote aspiration; a breathing.
Be it a letter or spirit, we have great use for it.
Mind
Choice; inclination; liking; intent; will.
If it be your minds, then let none go forth.
Spirit
Life, or living substance, considered independently of corporeal existence; an intelligence conceived of apart from any physical organization or embodiment; vital essence, force, or energy, as distinct from matter.
Mind
Memory; remembrance; recollection; as, to have or keep in mind, to call to mind, to put in mind, etc.
Spirit
The intelligent, immaterial and immortal part of man; the soul, in distinction from the body in which it resides; the agent or subject of vital and spiritual functions, whether spiritual or material.
There is a spirit in man; and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Spirit is a substance wherein thinking, knowing, doubting, and a power of moving, do subsist.
Mind
Courage; spirit.
Spirit
Specifically, a disembodied soul; the human soul after it has left the body.
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Ye gentle spirits far away,With whom we shared the cup of grace.
Mind
To fix the mind or thoughts on; to regard with attention; to treat as of consequence; to consider; to heed; to mark; to note.
My lord, you nod: you do not mind the play.
Spirit
Any supernatural being, good or bad; an apparition; a specter; a ghost; also, sometimes, a sprite,; a fairy; an elf.
Whilst young, preserve his tender mind from all impressions of spirits and goblins in the dark.
Mind
To occupy one's self with; to employ one's self about; to attend to; as, to mind one's business.
Bidding him be a good child, and mind his book.
Spirit
Energy, vivacity, ardor, enthusiasm, courage, etc.
"Write it then, quickly," replied Bede; and summoning all his spirits together, like the last blaze of a candle going out, he indited it, and expired.
Mind
To obey; as, to mind parents; the dog minds his master.
Spirit
One who is vivacious or lively; one who evinces great activity or peculiar characteristics of mind or temper; as, a ruling spirit; a schismatic spirit.
Such spirits as he desired to please, such would I choose for my judges.
Mind
To have in mind; to purpose.
I mind to tell him plainly what I think.
Spirit
Temper or disposition of mind; mental condition or disposition; intellectual or moral state; - often in the plural; as, to be cheerful, or in good spirits; to be downhearted, or in bad spirits.
God has . . . made a spirit of building succeed a spirit of pulling down.
A perfect judge will read each work of witWith the same spirit that its author writ.
Mind
To put in mind; to remind.
He minded them of the mutability of all earthly things.
I do thee wrong to mind thee of it.
Spirit
Intent; real meaning; - opposed to the letter, or to formal statement; also, characteristic quality, especially such as is derived from the individual genius or the personal character; as, the spirit of an enterprise, of a document, or the like.
Mind
To give attention or heed; to obey; as, the dog minds well.
Spirit
Tenuous, volatile, airy, or vapory substance, possessed of active qualities.
All bodies have spirits . . . within them.
Mind
That which is responsible for one's thoughts and feelings; the seat of the faculty of reason;
His mind wandered
I couldn't get his words out of my head
Spirit
Any liquid produced by distillation; especially, alcohol, the spirits, or spirit, of wine (it having been first distilled from wine): - often in the plural.
Mind
Recall or remembrance;
It came to mind
Spirit
Rum, whisky, brandy, gin, and other distilled liquors having much alcohol, in distinction from wine and malt liquors.
Mind
An opinion formed by judging something;
He was reluctant to make his judgment known
She changed her mind
Spirit
A solution in alcohol of a volatile principle. Cf. Tincture.
Mind
An important intellectual;
The great minds of the 17th century
Spirit
Any one of the four substances, sulphur, sal ammoniac, quicksilver, or arsenic (or, according to some, orpiment).
The four spirits and the bodies seven.
Mind
Attention;
Don't pay him any mind
Spirit
Stannic chloride. See under Stannic.
Mind
Your intention; what you intend to do;
He had in mind to see his old teacher
The idea of the game is to capture all the pieces
Spirit
To animate with vigor; to excite; to encourage; to inspirit; as, civil dissensions often spirit the ambition of private men; - sometimes followed by up.
Many officers and private men spirit up and assist those obstinate people to continue in their rebellion.
Mind
Knowledge and intellectual ability;
He reads to improve his mind
He has a keen intellect
Spirit
To convey rapidly and secretly, or mysteriously, as if by the agency of a spirit; to kidnap; - often with away, or off.
The ministry had him spirited away, and carried abroad as a dangerous person.
I felt as if I had been spirited into some castle of antiquity.
Mind
Be offended or bothered by; take offense with, be bothered by;
I don't mind your behavior
Spirit
The vital principle or animating force within living things
Mind
Be concerned with or about something or somebody
Spirit
The general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people;
The feel of the city excited him
A clergyman improved the tone of the meeting
It had the smell of treason
Mind
Be in charge of or deal with;
She takes care of all the necessary arrangements
Spirit
A fundamental emotional and activating principle determining one's character
Mind
Pay close attention to; give heed to;
Heed the advice of the old men
Spirit
Any incorporeal supernatural being that can become visible (or audible) to human beings
Mind
Be on one's guard; be cautious or wary about; be alert to;
Beware of telephone salesmen
Spirit
The state of a person's emotions (especially with regard to pleasure or dejection);
His emotional state depended on her opinion
He was in good spirits
His spirit rose
Mind
Keep in mind
Spirit
The intended meaning of a communication
Mind
The element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences.
He changed his mind after hearing the full story.
Spirit
Animation and energy in action or expression;
It was a heavy play and the actors tried in vain to give life to it
Mind
The faculty of consciousness and thought.
Her mind was occupied with thoughts of the upcoming event.
Spirit
An inclination or tendency of a certain kind;
He had a change of heart
Spirit
Infuse with spirit;
The company spirited him up
Spirit
The nonphysical part of a person which is the seat of emotions and character.
Her spirit was unbreakable, even in the face of adversity.
Spirit
The vital principle or animating force within living beings.
The spirit of the forest seemed to come alive at night.
Spirit
The prevailing or typical quality, mood, or attitude of a person, group, or period of time.
The team's spirit was high after the victory.
Common Curiosities
How does "Mind" relate to the brain?
The "Mind" is linked to the brain's functions, encompassing intellect, thought processes, and perception.
What does "Spirit" generally refer to?
"Spirit" often refers to the vital force, essence, or soul of a being.
Can "Spirit" have religious connotations?
Yes, "Spirit" can pertain to religious beliefs, addressing matters of the soul or divine essence.
Is the "Mind" solely about intellectual capabilities?
No, while the "Mind" encompasses intellect, it also involves emotions, consciousness, and perceptions.
Can one be in "high spirits"?
Yes, being in "high spirits" means being in a cheerful or lively mood.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
