heathen
Americannoun
-
(in historical contexts) a member of a people that do not acknowledge the God of the Bible; a pagan.
-
Sometimes Disparaging and Offensive.
-
a person who is not a Christian, Jew, or Muslim.
-
an irreligious, uncultured, or uncivilized person.
-
adjective
-
(in historical contexts) of or relating to heathens; pagan.
-
Sometimes Disparaging and Offensive.
-
relating to a religion, person, or culture that is not Christian, Jewish, or Muslim.
-
irreligious, uncultured, or uncivilized.
-
noun
-
a person who does not acknowledge the God of Christianity, Judaism, or Islam; pagan
-
an uncivilized or barbaric person
-
(functioning as plural) heathens collectively
adjective
-
irreligious; pagan
-
unenlightened; uncivilized; barbaric
-
of or relating to heathen peoples or their religious, moral, and other customs, practices, and beliefs
Synonym Usage
See pagan.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of heathen
First recorded before 900; Middle English hethen, Old English hǣthen, akin to German Heide, heidnisch (adjective), Old Norse heithingi (noun), heithinn (adjective), Gothic haithno (noun); perhaps akin to heath
Explanation
If you don't believe in God — or if you contradict other beliefs of a religion — you are a heathen. There are plenty of nonbelievers, but a heathen is something more — someone who is actively offensive to a religion. The term is tied to the Gods of Judaism, Christianity and Islam; someone who rejects the various gods of Hinduism, for example, is not likely to be called a heathen. Heathens are sometimes called infidels and pagans. These days, the term is often used humorously. An atheist might jokingly refer to herself as a heathen.
Vocabulary lists containing heathen
"Beowulf," Vocabulary from the epic poem
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from all 4 Acts
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 20–25
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The story of the "heathen," writes Stanford religious studies professor Kathryn Gin Lum, in her new book, "Heathen: Religion and Race in American History," is a familiar one.
From Salon • Jul. 4, 2022
Or one of the Great Heathen Army — Viking warriors from Scandinavia — that invaded England by the thousands and set up camp outside, conquering what was then the Kingdom of Mercia.
From Washington Post • Jul. 17, 2021
Uniformly strong, the songwriting on Heathen stretched from the prosaic – the letter-to-adult-son of Everyone Says Hi – to the baffling.
From The Guardian • Mar. 19, 2020
Epona Heathen, 33, used to have a different name and used to live in Oakland, Calif., working at a thrift store.
From New York Times • Mar. 5, 2020
Most of the chapters are concerned with the lives of Heathen men and women and children surrounded by the tremendous bars and gates of the Caste system.
From Things as They Are Mission Work in Southern India by Carmichael, Amy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
