heterodox

American  

[het-er-uh-doks] / ˈhɛt ər əˌdɒks /

adjective

1. not in accordance with established or accepted doctrines or opinions, especially in theology; unorthodox.

2. holding unorthodox doctrines or opinions.

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heterodox British  

/ ˈhɛtərəʊˌdɒks /

adjective

1. at variance with established, orthodox, or accepted doctrines or beliefs

2. holding unorthodox opinions

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Other Word Forms

• heterodoxly
  adverb
• heterodoxy
  noun

Etymology

Origin of heterodox

1610–20; < Greek heteródoxos of another opinion, equivalent to hetero- hetero- + dóx ( a ) opinion (Compare dokeîn to think, suppose) + -os adj. suffix

Explanation

Heterodox is from the Greek root words heteros, meaning "the other," and doxa, meaning "opinion." The adjective heterodox was first applied to people who held a different religious opinion from the standard beliefs and teachings. Today, although the religious meaning remains, the adjective heterodox can describe someone who adheres to any atypical beliefs, such as scientists who buck the current thinking or politicians who do not toe the party line. The word can be a synonym of heretical, which describes someone with contrary beliefs. If you are a teacher with a heterodox teaching style, you may win over students but alarm your more traditional colleagues.

Example Sentences

National free-speech advocacy groups such as the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, the Academic Freedom Alliance and Heterodox Academy have offered advice, support, coordination and some individual programs such as sponsored debates.

From Washington Post • Jul. 24, 2022

Heterodox Academy has created an educational app called OpenMind to help students learn virtues like intellectual humility and empathy so that they can speak to one another across the divide.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 17, 2018

At Heterodox Academy, Sean Stevens and Jonathan Haidt have compiled a pretty comprehensive list of psychological differences between the sexes—there are plenty, not all point the same way and there are many caveats.

From Economist • Aug. 15, 2017

See Heterodox Academy for an organization doing this right.

From New York Times • Apr. 3, 2017

Heterodox ribaldry disgusts me, I confess, rather more than orthodox fanaticism.

From Life and Letters of Thomas Henry Huxley — Volume 3 by Huxley, Leonard