monotheistic
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
- monotheistically adverb
- nonmonotheistic adverb
Etymology
Origin of monotheistic
Explanation
If you are monotheistic, then you believe in one god. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are monotheistic religions. These days the monotheistic religions — ones that believe in one god — are the most popular. But other religions, like Buddhism and Hinduism, are polytheistic — meaning they believe in many gods. Usually in a monotheistic religion, God (with a capital G) is an all-powerful being who created the universe and knows everything. Monotheistic religions tend to look at other types of believers as pagans, heathens, and heretics.
Vocabulary lists containing monotheistic
World Religions
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This Week In Words: Current Events Vocab for September 12–18, 2020
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Content Summary 3.1: Early Islamic States
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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.
Glass had chosen the pharaoh because he is thought to have been the first monotheistic ruler.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026
"One example are neo-pagan groups, a religious and cultural current based on pre-Christian paganism whose followers see themselves as living Scandinavian paganism -- often in contrast to monotheistic religions such as Christianity."
From Science Daily • Nov. 23, 2025
It is based on the teachings of Bahaullah, who was born in Iran in 1817 and is considered the prophet and founder of their monotheistic faith.
From Barron's • Oct. 14, 2025
She craved transcendence, and like an increasing number of Americans, she didn’t find it in Christianity or another historic monotheistic religion.
From New York Times • May 22, 2024
While Hinduism retained its popular rituals and devotion to its pantheon, at its core Hinduism became monotheistic and introspective.
From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife
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.
