orthodoxy
Americannoun
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orthodox belief or practice.
-
orthodox character.
noun
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orthodox belief or practice
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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
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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
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Darius the Great Is Not Okay
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"American Flag Stands for Tolerance" by Ronald J. Allen
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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.
His rhetoric took on elements of Eastern Orthodoxy and of darkness and light.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
"The monastery's property is being seized and expropriated. This spiritual beacon of Orthodoxy and Hellenism is now facing an existential threat," he said in a statement.
From BBC • Sep. 6, 2025
But the Russian Orthodox Church, the largest communion in Eastern Orthodoxy, has stayed on the old calendar, observing Christmas on Jan. 7 on the new calendar, as have Serbian, Georgian and some other Orthodox.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 5, 2024
Lauded by some in the West for challenging the assumptions of Putin's Russia, Russian officials say the group has intentionally tried to be disrespectful of Russian culture, morality and Orthodoxy.
From Reuters • Nov. 7, 2023
Not the way they noticed Soulless Minions of Orthodoxy like Chip Cusumano, who really was handsome.
From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram
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.
