antinomian

American  

[an-ti-noh-mee-uhn] / ˌæn tɪˈnoʊ mi ən /

noun

1. a person who maintains that Christians, by virtue of divine grace, are freed not only from biblical law and church-prescribed behavioral norms, but also from all moral law.

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antinomian British  

/ ˌæntɪˈnəʊmɪən /

adjective

1. relating to the doctrine that by faith and the dispensation of grace a Christian is released from the obligation of adhering to any moral law

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noun

1. a member of a Christian sect holding such a doctrine

Other Word Forms

• antinomianism noun

Etymology

Origin of antinomian

First recorded in 1635–45; from Medieval Latin Antinom(ī) name of sect (plural of Antinomus “opponent of (the moral) law,” from Greek antí anti- + nómos “law”) + -ian

Example Sentences

An early instance of antinomian free love provokes the apostle Paul to write to the Corinthians in his New Testament letter.

From Salon • Oct. 8, 2022

Hutchinson spoke about her religious convictions in ways that convinced authorities she was an antinomian, someone who believed she received direct revelation from God.

From Salon • Dec. 14, 2019

Here, the tramp is truly the other: rather than a projection of our fears, he’s a realisation of our romantically antinomian fantasies.

From The Guardian • Nov. 5, 2015

Marcus’ work shows how to use research without being used by it, and how to make grown-up arguments about the antinomian, instinctive, innocent weirdness in great pop songs.

From Slate • Sep. 9, 2014

He teaches a shameless and antinomian hedonism, narrower, less humane, but more fervid and emotional, than that taught by Remy de Gourmont.

From One Hundred Best Books by Powys, John Cowper