orthodox

[ awr-thuh-doks ]

/ ˈɔr θəˌdɒks /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR orthodox ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of, relating to, or conforming to the approved form of any doctrine, philosophy, ideology, etc.

of, relating to, or conforming to beliefs, attitudes, or modes of conduct that are generally approved.

customary or conventional, as a means or method; established.

sound or correct in opinion or doctrine, especially theological or religious doctrine.

conforming to the Christian faith as represented in the creeds of the early church.

(initial capital letter) of, relating to, or designating the Eastern Church, especially the Greek Orthodox Church.

(initial capital letter) of, relating to, or characteristic of Orthodox Jews or Orthodox Judaism.

Nearby words

Origin of orthodox

1575–85; < Late Latin orthodoxus right in religion < Late Greek orthódoxos, equivalent to ortho- ortho- + dóx(a) belief, opinion + -os adj. suffix

SYNONYMS FOR orthodox

3. traditional, commonplace, routine, fixed.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR orthodox ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

or·tho·dox·ly, adverbor·tho·dox·ness, nounan·ti·or·tho·dox, adjectivean·ti·or·tho·dox·ly, adverb

hy·per·or·tho·dox, adjectivenon·or·tho·dox, adjectivenon·or·tho·dox·ly, adverbpro-or·tho·dox, adjectivesem·i·or·tho·dox, adjectivesem·i·or·tho·dox·ly, adverbul·tra·or·tho·dox, adjectiveun·or·tho·dox, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for orthodox

The gentleman was listed as Orthodox and kosher, which is way too religious for my friend whose JSwipe account I was test-driving.
My Week on Jewish Tinder|Emily Shire|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Ben is not Orthodox or particularly committed to adhering to traditional Jewish laws.
My Week on Jewish Tinder|Emily Shire|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I mean my background weighed heavily, because I was brought up in this orthodox way.
Daphne Merkin on Lena Dunham, Book Criticism, and Self-Examination|Mindy Farabee|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Most Allentown residents of Syrian heritage are Orthodox Christians from the Wadi-al-Nasara region in western Homs province.
Welcome to Assadville, USA|Christopher Moraff|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Putin also blamed Ukrainian nationalists for attacking the Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine.
Why Are Swastikas Hot In West Ukraine?|Anna Nemtsova|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She seemed to be troubled with some haunting suspicion that this was not an orthodox cat.
The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 20, March 25, 1897|Various
You have taught me to love, dear Heart; and now, as you see, you are teaching me to be orthodox.
The Jessica Letters: An Editor's Romance|Paul Elmer More
On the whole, we think the Spiritist trick is worse than the malignity of orthodox Christians.
Flowers of Freethought|George W. Foote
I have been talking a great deal about the orthodox religion.
The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 2 (of 12)|Robert G. Ingersoll
The orthodox amulet on the doorpost did not comfort her; it had been left there, forgotten, a mute symbol of the Jewish past.
Ghetto Comedies|Israel Zangwill

British Dictionary definitions for orthodox

orthodox

/ (ˈɔːθəˌdɒks) /

adjective

conforming with established or accepted standards, as in religion, behaviour, or attitudes

conforming to the Christian faith as established by the early Church

Derived Formsorthodoxly, adverb

Word Origin for orthodox

C16: via Church Latin from Greek orthodoxos, from orthos correct + doxa belief

Orthodox

/ (ˈɔːθəˌdɒks) /

adjective

of or relating to the Orthodox Church of the East

(sometimes not capital)

of or relating to Orthodox Judaism
(of an individual Jew) strict in the observance of Talmudic law and in personal devotions

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 orthodox

orthodox

adj.

mid-15c., of opinions, faith, from Late Latin orthodoxus, from Greek orthodoxos "having the right opinion," from orthos "right, true, straight" (see ortho-) + doxa "opinion, praise," from dokein "to seem," from PIE root *dek- "to take, accept" (see decent). As the name of the Eastern Church, first recorded in English 1772; in reference to a branch of Judaism, first recorded 1853.