Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

monotheism

[mon-uh-thee-iz-uh m]
See more synonyms for monotheism on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the doctrine or belief that there is only one God.
Show More

Origin of monotheism

First recorded in 1650–60; mono- + (poly)theism
Related formsmon·o·the·ist, noun, adjectivemon·o·the·is·tic, mon·o·the·is·ti·cal, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for monotheism

Historical Examples

  • Here, it has been maintained, we see the Teutonic faith rising to monotheism.

    History of Religion

    Allan Menzies

  • Polytheism was dominant while their monotheism was as yet a persecuted belief.

  • The principle of monotheism could not allow such a conception as this.

  • Monotheism is the doctrine of belief that there is but one God.

    Orthography

    Elmer W. Cavins

  • The Jewish monotheism had left the crowd of gods unlessened.

British Dictionary definitions for monotheism

monotheism

noun
  1. the belief or doctrine that there is only one God
Show More
Derived Formsmonotheist, noun, adjectivemonotheistic, adjectivemonotheistically, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for monotheism

n.

"belief that there is but one god," 1650s, from Greek mono-, comb. form of monos "single, alone" (see mono-) + theos "a god" (see Thea).

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
monotheism in Culture

monotheism

A belief in one god. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are all monotheistic religions. (Compare polytheism.)

Show More
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.