deity
noun
a god or goddess.
deity
American
[dee-i-tee]
/ ˈdi ɪ ti /
noun
-
deities
plural
-
a god or goddess.
-
divine character or nature, especially that of the Supreme Being; divinity.
-
the estate or rank of a god.
The king attained deity after his death.
-
a person or thing revered as a god or goddess.
a society in which money is the only deity.
-
the Deity, God; Supreme Being.
deity
1
British
/ ˈdeɪtɪ, ˈdiːɪ- /
noun
-
a god or goddess
-
the state of being divine; godhead
-
the rank, status, or position of a god
-
the nature or character of God
Deity
2
British
/ ˈdeɪtɪ, ˈdiːɪ- /
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of deity
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English deite, from Old French, from Late Latin deitāt- (stem of deitās ), equivalent to Latin dei- (combining form of deus “god”) + -tāt- -ty 2, formed after Latin dīvīnitās divinity
Explanation
A deity is a supernatural being, like a god or goddess, that is worshipped by people who believe it controls or exerts force over some aspect of the world. The word deity means "divine nature." It was coined by Saint Augustine, a theologian whose writings were very influential in the shaping of Western Christianity. Deity comes from the Latin word for "god": deus. The divine nature of deities is believed to be immortal goodness and powerfulness.
Vocabulary lists containing deity
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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.
See Examples For:
The species was named Vasuki indicus in honor of Vasuki, the mythical serpent associated with the Hindu deity Shiva, who is traditionally depicted with the snake wrapped around his neck.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026
He told Modi that during the ordeal, he had recited a Hindu devotional prayer dedicated to the deity Hanuman.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
Many Hindus believe Ayodhya to be the birthplace of deity Ram.
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026
It was designed in the shape of Quetzalcoatl, or the “Feathered Serpent,” an Aztec deity and symbol of rebirth.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026
She had been living in my mind like this for years, a deity of contempt.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
“While I am far from perfect, let me be clear: I believe Jesus was born of a virgin. I believe in the Deity of Christ as the only Son of God.”
From Washington Times ● Feb. 3, 2022
Alexandra Villamia Drimal and Samuel John Barr were married Aug. 4 at Deity, an events space in Brooklyn.
From New York Times ● Aug. 5, 2018
Only then did Carroll and Allison share the news of their new business, Deity Skin Care, with clients who came in for appointments.
From Time ● Aug. 5, 2015
Then Eve declared, “Each creature hath a mate But me, and, Deity, I’m getting bored!”
From Washington Post ● May 13, 2015
And since I had been born in a Christian nation, I accepted this Deity as the only one.
From "The Fire Next Time" by James Baldwin
Temporary tents housing idols of Goddess Durga and other deities are set up across cities and towns.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026
In New York, the same universe of botanical abundance, deities and searching eyes suggests paradise found.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
KHARTOUM, Sudan — The ancient statues of the deities Heket and Beset, too heavy to move, were used for target practice.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
Hindus regard Kailash as the abode of deities Shiva and Parvati, while Tibetan Buddhists associate it with Mount Meru, which they say is the centre of the universe.
From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026
The Ganesha is one of the oldest and most familiar Hindu deities, possessing a fat human body, four human arms, and the head of a cheerful-looking elephant.
From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
