demigod
Americannoun
-
demigods
plural
-
a mythological being who is partly divine and partly human; an inferior deity.
-
a deified mortal.
noun
-
-
a mythological being who is part mortal, part god
-
a lesser deity
-
-
a person with outstanding or godlike attributes
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of demigod
1520–30; translation of Latin sēmideus. See demi-, god ( def. )
Explanation
A demigod is a divine mythological figure, a god who is either part human, or a minor god. In ancient Greece, dead heroes were sometimes thought of as demigods. Greek and Roman mythology have their share of demigods, and so do many other ancient religions and traditions. The half-divine Heracles, the son of a mortal woman and the god Zeus, is often described as one of the most important demigods in ancient Greece. The word demigod comes from the roots demi, "half," from the Latin dimidius, and god.
Vocabulary lists containing demigod
"The Hero’s Journey" and "Myths and Legends"
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!
UCPS 6th Grade Roots List #7
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!
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.
See Examples For:
The case has gripped Argentina, with some of his fans holding up signs outside of the Buenos Aires court demanding “Justice for God,” a reference to Maradona’s status as a demigod.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 2026
Speaking of the 2016 film, Dwayne Johnson, who voiced the shapeshifter demigod and hero of men in the animated “Moana,” will also portray the live-action version of the arrogant trickster.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 18, 2025
Before he was a TV host or culinary demigod, Anthony Bourdain was a writer: sharp-tongued, sensual, and totally unafraid to follow a story wherever it led.
From Salon ● Jun. 25, 2025
"She is strong, she is brave, she is not afraid to grab a demigod by the ear. She looks strong as well, at the helm of her ship."
From BBC ● Nov. 24, 2024
The demigod Cadmus had slain a dragon that happened to be a child of Ares.
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
The NBA’s very best teams tend to be led by generational superstars who have been anointed as basketball demigods since they first laced up their sneakers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026
Your favorite young demigods hit Hall H to tease the upcoming second season of the fantasy TV series.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2025
They are demigods creating a new world, after all, so why should they have to deal with petty impediments like copyright law?
From Seattle Times ● May 24, 2024
Ms Rohs says during her time in the church in the 1990s and 2000s, workers were like "demigods" and never questioned, and that callers to the abuse hotline confirm that this culture persists today.
From BBC ● Jan. 27, 2024
After the Iris-message, the demigods paced the deck in silence, staring at the water and hoping for a miracle.
From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
