demigod
Americannoun
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a mythological being who is partly divine and partly human; an inferior deity.
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a deified mortal.
noun
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a mythological being who is part mortal, part god
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a lesser deity
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a person with outstanding or godlike attributes
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of demigod
1520–30; translation of Latin sēmideus. See demi-, god ( def. )
Explanation
A demigod is a divine mythological figure, a god who is either part human, or a minor god. In ancient Greece, dead heroes were sometimes thought of as demigods. Greek and Roman mythology have their share of demigods, and so do many other ancient religions and traditions. The half-divine Heracles, the son of a mortal woman and the god Zeus, is often described as one of the most important demigods in ancient Greece. The word demigod comes from the roots demi, "half," from the Latin dimidius, and god.
Vocabulary lists containing demigod
"The Hero’s Journey" and "Myths and Legends"
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UCPS 6th Grade Roots List #7
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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:
Dwayne Johnson reprises his role as demigod Maui, with 19-year-old Australian-Samoan newcomer Catherine Laga'aia playing Moana, the teen daughter of a Polynesian chief.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
The case has gripped Argentina, with some of his fans holding up signs outside of the Buenos Aires court demanding “Justice for God,” a reference to Maradona’s status as a demigod.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 2026
“Just to let everyone know, I will not be attending prom,” Scobell, who plays the titular demigod in the Disney+ series, wrote in a message posted to his Instagram Story.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 13, 2026
Before he was a TV host or culinary demigod, Anthony Bourdain was a writer: sharp-tongued, sensual, and totally unafraid to follow a story wherever it led.
From Salon ● Jun. 25, 2025
There was hardly a single demigod who hadn’t already been wounded ... except me.
From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan
“A lot of people look at Ohio State like they’re demigods, like they’re unbeatable,” Miami defensive end Akheem Mesidor said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 1, 2026
Ms Rohs says during her time in the church in the 1990s and 2000s, workers were like "demigods" and never questioned, and that callers to the abuse hotline confirm that this culture persists today.
From BBC ● Jan. 27, 2024
In place of demigods and antiheroes, women were his preferred orbit.
From New York Times ● Sep. 8, 2023
Rather than play in the McCaw Hall pit, the musicians will be situated onstage, right in the midst of Wagner’s cosmos of “flawed gods, aspiring demigods and power-mad dwarves,” as Staufenbiel puts it.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 8, 2023
“Did you know the monstrous squid is the only beast known to eat demigods whole, armor and all, without getting indigestion? It’s true!”
From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan
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.
