heterodoxy
Americannoun
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heterodox state or quality.
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a heterodox opinion, view, etc.
Other Word Forms
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.
“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
As a sentence about America, it has it all: heterodoxy, entrepreneurialism, cultural appropriation, sexual repression, and a town that could have been named by the Protestant work ethic made sentient.
From The New Yorker • Apr. 24, 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
Self-sacrifice was exalted in all fascist and revolutionary movements, but in the Legion, martyrdom was virtually required, accompanied by theological heterodoxy.
From Slate • Feb. 21, 2017
It is true that heterodoxy of a very deplorable kind has, to a considerable degree, crept into the universities of that country.
From A Letter to the Right Hon. Lord Bexley containing a statement to the committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society by Cunningham, Francis
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.
