What does "heresy" mean?
A doctrine held by a member of a religion at variance or conflict with established religious beliefs.
Heresy
/ˈhɛɹəsi/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A doctrine held by a member of a religion at variance or conflict with established religious beliefs.
- Grammar: heresy is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: heterodoxy, unorthodoxy, aberrancy, aberration.
- Useful contrasts: orthodox, acceptance, catholicity.
- Usage evidence: As for the accusations of heresy, here the evidence is much weaker.
How to use "heresy"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "heresy" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "heresy" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "heresy" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "heresy" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "heresy" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "heterodoxy" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "heresy", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A doctrine held by a member of a religion at variance or conflict with established religious beliefs. countable, uncountable
"Heresy meant deliberate departure from the accepted doctrines of the church. It was intellectual and spiritual dissent and concerned the beliefs of Christianity, not the morals of its adherents."
- 2 a belief that rejects the orthodox tenets of a religion wordnet
- 3 A controversial or unorthodox opinion held by a member of a group, as in politics, philosophy or science. broadly, countable, uncountable
"I'm going to declare a heresy for you. All science, if you go back into its roots, saying: 'Why do I believe this?' 'Well, I believe this because of these tests and this proof.' 'Well, why do I believe this?' 'Why did I set up this test?' 'Why did I believe that proof?' All science goes back to something that we believe because we believe it. We believe it because we believe it, and we have no proof for it. It's like a religion."
- 4 any opinions or doctrines at variance with the official or orthodox position wordnet
Example
"As for the accusations of heresy, here the evidence is much weaker."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "heresy"?
Common synonyms include: heterodoxy, unorthodoxy, aberrancy, aberration, abominations, agnosticism.
How do you use "heresy" in a sentence?
As for the accusations of heresy, here the evidence is much weaker.
How do you pronounce "heresy"?
Pronounced /ˈhɛɹəsi/.
Etymology
From Middle English heresie, from Old French heresie (modern hérésie), from Latin haeresis, from Ancient Greek αἵρεσις (haíresis, “choice, system of principles”), from αἱρέομαι (hairéomai, “to take for oneself, to choose”), the middle voice of αἱρέω (hairéō, “to take”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *ser-; see also Welsh herw (“theft, raid”), Ancient Greek στερέω (steréō, “to deprive of”).