What does "orthodox" mean?
An Orthodox Christian.
Orthodox
/ˈɔɹθədɑks/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An Orthodox Christian.
- Grammar: orthodox is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: accepted, accepted, accepted doctrine, accordant.
- Useful contrasts: eclectic, heterodox, liberal.
- Usage evidence: Outside the mainstream of orthodox Judaism, the apocalyptic books were more successful with certain movements.
How to use "orthodox"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "orthodox" 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 "orthodox" 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 "orthodox" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "orthodox" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- 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.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "orthodox" is acting as adj, 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 "accepted" 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.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "orthodox", 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 An Orthodox Christian. uncommon
"The Greek Orthodox population of the 62 bishoprics in 1886 numbered 65,549,096. to which the Orthodoxes of the army and navy must be added."
- 2 An Orthodox Jew. rare
Adjective
- 1 Conforming to the accepted, established, or traditional doctrines of a given faith, religion, or ideology.
"Five important modifications were made by the Pietists to the orthodox doctrine of justification, each corresponding to a distinctive aspect of the movement's agenda."
- 2 Of or pertaining to the Orthodox Churches collectively.
- 3 Adhering to whatever is customary, traditional, or generally accepted.
"She tattled on: first to one, then to the other—then to all, till she had tattled herself out of breath;—and then the orthodox half hour had expired, and the bell was rung, and the carriage ordered, and Mrs. Hare rose to depart."
- 4 Of or pertaining to a particular Orthodox Church, usually the Eastern Orthodox Church, sometimes the Oriental Orthodox Church or the Church of the East. broadly
- 5 Of the eastern churches, Eastern Orthodox.
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 Of or pertaining to Orthodox Judaism. Judaism
- 7 Of a branch of Judaism.
- 8 Of or pertaining to the Orthodox Quakers, a group of Quakers (subdivided into the Wilburite, Gurneyite and Beaconite branches) who split with the Hicksite Quakers due to favoring adopting mainstream Protestant orthodoxy. Quakerism
"[...which] Doherty hypothesized as the controlling variable for predicting who would become Orthodox or who would be Hicksite."
- 9 Of pollen, seed, or spores: viable for a long time; viable when dried to low moisture content.
Adjective
- 1 adhering to what is commonly accepted wordnet
- 2 of or pertaining to or characteristic of Judaism wordnet
- 3 of or relating to or characteristic of the Eastern Orthodox Church wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Outside the mainstream of orthodox Judaism, the apocalyptic books were more successful with certain movements."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "orthodox"?
Common synonyms include: accepted, accepted, accepted doctrine, accordant, accustomed, acknowledged.
How do you use "orthodox" in a sentence?
Outside the mainstream of orthodox Judaism, the apocalyptic books were more successful with certain movements.
How do you pronounce "orthodox"?
Pronounced /ˈɔɹθədɑks/.
Etymology
From Late Middle English orthodoxe, from Middle French orthodoxe and its etymon Late Latin orthodoxus, from Ancient Greek ὀρθόδοξος (orthódoxos), from ὀρθός (orthós, “straight”) + δόξα (dóxa, “opinion”).