polytheism

[pol-ee-thee-iz-uh m, pol-ee-thee-iz-uh m]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR polytheism ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the doctrine of or belief in more than one god or in many gods.

RELATED WORDS

theism, religion, theology

Nearby words

Origin of polytheism

1605–15; poly- + theism; compare French polythéisme

Related formspol·y·the·ist, nounpol·y·the·is·tic, pol·y·the·is·ti·cal, adjective

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

Examples from the Web for polytheism

To many outside Christianity, this looks a bit like polytheism!
Does Pope Francis Believe Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God?|Jay Parini|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Israelites, although authoritatively taught monotheism, fell back again and again into polytheism.
Theism|Robert Flint
So too with polytheism: a pantheon which is divided against itself cannot stand.
The Idea of God in Early Religions|F. B. Jevons
With advancing thought the ideas of polytheism later gave place to the nobler conception of monotheism.
The Story of the Living Machine|H. W. Conn

William James has pointed out that polytheism is not theoretically absurd and is practically the religion of many Europeans.
Hinduism and Buddhism, Vol I. (of 3)|Charles Eliot
A true monotheism has never arisen except as a criticism of polytheism.
Introduction to the History of Religions|Crawford Howell Toy

British Dictionary definitions for polytheism

polytheism

noun

the worship of or belief in more than one god

Derived Formspolytheist, nounpolytheistic, adjectivepolytheistically, 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 polytheism

polytheism

1610s, from French polythéisme (16c.), formed from Greek polytheia "polytheism," polytheos "of many gods," from polys "many" (see poly-) + theos "god" (see Thea).

Culture definitions for polytheism

polytheism

The belief in more than one god. The ancient Greeks, for example, were polytheists; their gods included Apollo, Athena, Dionysus, and Zeus. (Compare monotheism.)