demigod
Americannoun
-
a mythological being who is partly divine and partly human; an inferior deity.
-
a deified mortal.
noun
-
-
a mythological being who is part mortal, part god
-
a lesser deity
-
-
a person with outstanding or godlike attributes
Other Word Forms
- demigoddess noun
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"
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!
UCPS 6th Grade Roots List #7
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!
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.
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
Moana 2 reunites its titular star, voiced by Auli’i Cravalho, and Dwayne Johnson's demigod Maui, on a new voyage to save other islanders oppressed by the evil god Nalo.
From BBC • Nov. 27, 2024
He also suggested he would return as the demigod Maui.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2023
The production is in the early stages — no director has been announced — but Dwayne Johnson is set to return as the demigod Maui.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 3, 2023
The chairs were cushy recliners with thousand-finger massage, built-in headphones, and sword and drink holders for all your demigod kicking-back needs.
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.
