orthodoxy
Americannoun
-
orthodoxies
plural
-
orthodox belief or practice.
-
orthodox character.
noun
-
orthodox belief or practice
-
the quality of being orthodox
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of orthodoxy
1620–30; < Late Latin orthodoxia < Greek orthodoxía right opinion, equivalent to orthódox ( os ) ( see orthodox) + -ia -y 3
Compare meaning
How does orthodoxy compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A widely accepted belief or theory is an orthodoxy. You could call the scientific theory of gravity an orthodoxy, since it's generally considered to be an established fact. The word orthodoxy comes from the Greek root words orthos, which means right, true or straight, and doxa, opinion. So orthodoxy describes the one true opinion. The noun orthodoxy, pronounced "OR-thuh-dock-see," is most commonly used to talk about religious beliefs. When you conform to the orthodoxy of a particular religion, you follow its accepted doctrines, like a Christian's belief in an all-powerful God.
Vocabulary lists containing orthodoxy
"Politics and the English Language" by George Orwell
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!
Darius the Great Is Not Okay
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!
"American Flag Stands for Tolerance" by Ronald J. Allen
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.
See Examples For:
Measured in volatility, the S&P 500 over that period has been less “risky,” just as Wall Street orthodoxy would suggest.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026
Operation Reconquista, they call it: a cohort of conservative Generation Z Christians working to steer America’s Protestant mainline churches back to theological orthodoxy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
But there is no shortage of evangelists who will point to Musk's staggering ability to raise money, challenge orthodoxy and prove his doubters wrong.
From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026
“But the First Amendment stands as a shield against any effort to enforce orthodoxy in thought or speech in this country.”
From Salon ● Mar. 31, 2026
Whatever it was, you could be certain that every word of it was pure orthodoxy, pure Ingsoc.
From "1984" by George Orwell
One by one, the authors attempt to demolish the orthodoxies of space enthusiasts.
From Slate ● Dec. 9, 2025
There are no political, religious or secularist orthodoxies or litmus tests.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 30, 2025
What Field admired was Powell's willingness to challenge his own party's leadership and orthodoxies - even if it effectively removed him from office.
From BBC ● Apr. 24, 2024
Many of his opinions seemed intended to outrage liberals and modernists, or at least force them to question their orthodoxies.
From New York Times ● Jan. 12, 2023
If you come to that, what is laisser-faire but an orthodoxy? the most tyrannous and disastrous of all the orthodoxies, since it forbids you even to learn.
From The Doctor's Dilemma: Preface on Doctors by Bernard Shaw
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.
