theodicy

[thee-od-uh-see]

noun, plural the·od·i·cies.

a vindication of the divine attributes, particularly holiness and justice, in establishing or allowing the existence of physical and moral evil.

Nearby words

Origin of theodicy

1790–1800; theo- + Greek dík(ē) justice + -y3, modeled on French théodicée, a coinage of Leibniz

Related formsthe·od·i·ce·an, adjective

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

Examples from the Web for theodicy

This is the religious exercise known as theodicy: explaining why God allows bad things to happen to good people.
Liberian Pastors Blame Ebola on Gays, The Right Blames Obama|Jay Michaelson|October 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is particularly so in the Theodicy, as its many citations of theologians suggest.
Theodicy|G. W. Leibniz
And if we are to consider Leibniz historically, we cannot do better than take up his Theodicy, for two reasons.
Theodicy|G. W. Leibniz
Leibnitz, in his Monadology, and more especially his Theodicy, witnessed to his belief in this doctrine.
Reincarnation|Th. Pascal

And herein appears his contribution to a theodicy—a vindication of God's moral honor, where his moral government seems slack.
Abraham Lincoln's Cardinal Traits;|Clark S. Beardslee
Thus they presented in fact a theodicy, a rudimentary philosophy of religion.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 2|Various

British Dictionary definitions for theodicy

theodicy

noun plural -cies

the branch of theology concerned with defending the attributes of God against objections resulting from physical and moral evil

Derived Formstheodicean, adjective

Word Origin for theodicy

C18: coined by Leibnitz in French as théodicée, from theo- + Greek dikē justice

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 theodicy

theodicy

1799, from French théodicée, title of a work by Leibniz, from Greek theos "god" (see Thea) + dike "judgment, justice, usage, custom" (cognate with Latin dicere "to show, tell;" see diction).