deity
Americannoun
plural
deities-
a god or goddess.
-
divine character or nature, especially that of the Supreme Being; divinity.
-
the estate or rank of a god.
The king attained deity after his death.
-
a person or thing revered as a god or goddess.
a society in which money is the only deity.
-
the Deity, God; Supreme Being.
noun
-
a god or goddess
-
the state of being divine; godhead
-
the rank, status, or position of a god
-
the nature or character of God
noun
Other Word Forms
- superdeity noun
Etymology
Origin of deity
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English deite, from Old French, from Late Latin deitāt- (stem of deitās ), equivalent to Latin dei- (combining form of deus “god”) + -tāt- -ty 2, formed after Latin dīvīnitās divinity
Explanation
A deity is a supernatural being, like a god or goddess, that is worshipped by people who believe it controls or exerts force over some aspect of the world. The word deity means "divine nature." It was coined by Saint Augustine, a theologian whose writings were very influential in the shaping of Western Christianity. Deity comes from the Latin word for "god": deus. The divine nature of deities is believed to be immortal goodness and powerfulness.
Vocabulary lists containing deity
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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.
Plan Kukulkan, named after the serpent deity of the Mayan civilization, covers the host cities as well as nearby tourist destinations.
From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026
But such moments aren’t perforce life-altering, and the partners and faculty members weren’t actually wielding the authority of a deity.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026
At the same time, she can’t help laughing at the irony of a deity who arranges things in such a ruefully comic way.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 15, 2025
The current controversy centres around two idols of Dwarapalakas - or the door guards that stand just outside the sanctum sanctorum where the main deity sits.
From BBC • Nov. 4, 2025
One aspect of the deity, Nishkala Shiva, was literally the Shiva “without parts.’
From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife
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.
