heterodoxy
Americannoun
plural
heterodoxies-
heterodox state or quality.
-
a heterodox opinion, view, etc.
Etymology
Origin of heterodoxy
From the Greek word heterodoxía, dating back to 1645–55. See heterodox, -y 3
Explanation
If your civics teacher were to teach that it's best if only the people with luxury cars vote in an election, that teacher would quickly be accused of heterodoxy for teaching something quite different from the accepted or correct view. People are usually only accused of heterodoxy if they have influence or declare their views in an official capacity. But sometimes, if you have to subscribe to certain views in order to belong to an organization, your heterodoxy on any of those topics will be enough to keep you out whether you have any influence or not. Heterodoxy comes from the Greek word heterodoxia, from hetero-, meaning "different" or "other," and doxa, meaning "opinion."
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.
Seehorn’s Kim is a Type A striver with a rebellious streak; she wants to do work more meaningful than representing a regional bank and finds something alluring in Jimmy’s reckless heterodoxy.
From New York Times • Feb. 9, 2022
“This is a worldwide, but certainly American, trend toward heterodoxy — toward individuals cooking up their own spiritual or religious stew and cooking it up their way,” Burklo said.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 10, 2019
"I'm hearing, 'if you don't believe her claim, you are re-victimising her'. Since scepticism of a claim is heterodoxy, people will accept a claim either blindly or just to avoid being ostracised."
From BBC • Oct. 3, 2018
Likewise, the contest isn’t a race between a liberal or a moderate, or between heterodoxy and orthodoxy.
From Slate • Jun. 12, 2017
"Perhaps he was afraid that their heterodoxy might do his nephew harm," remarked I, rather tickled, I confess, by this characteristic fraud.
From Lost Sir Massingberd, v. 2/2 A Romance of Real Life by Payn, James
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.
