noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of theism
Compare meaning
How does theism compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Use the noun theism to describe the belief in at least one god. Practicing Catholics, for example, subscribe to theism. If you believe that God created the universe, you believe in theism. Its opposite is atheism, which means not believing in any god or higher spiritual power. There are different types of theism, such as monotheism, which is belief in only one god, and polytheism, belief in more than one god. The root of theism is the Greek word theos, or "god." English philosopher Ralph Cudworth was the first to use the term theism, in the 1600s.
Vocabulary lists containing theism
Power Suffix: -ism
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Suffix -ism, Part 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
UCPS 6th Grade Roots List #9
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
References to the Creator and Nature’s God in the Declaration reflect a general theism that could be acceptable to Christians, Unitarians, deists and others.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 17, 2024
Many who regard theism as a backward-looking social force might usefully consider how each of these holidays contains the seeds of rebellion.
From Washington Post • Apr. 17, 2022
Colonialism and theism — both Christian and Muslim — in Alan Mikhail’s “God’s Shadow.”
From New York Times • Oct. 22, 2020
I represented the agnostic position and David Lahti, a biologist and philosopher at the City University of New York, a position more friendly to theism.
From Scientific American • May 19, 2019
True he argued against theism, but to call him an atheist on that account would be as logical as to say St. Thomas was an atheist because he advanced objections against the existence of God.
From The Radicalism of Shelley and Its Sources by MacDonald, Daniel J.
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.
