theodicy

[ thee-od-uh-see ]

/ θiˈɒd ə si /

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

theocon, theocracy, theocrasy, theocrat, theocritus, theodicy, theodolite, theodora, theodorakis, theodore, theodore i

Origin of theodicy

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

Related forms

the·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

/ (θɪˈɒdɪsɪ) /

noun plural -cies

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

Derived Forms

theodicean, 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