theodicy

[ thee-od-uh-see ]

noun

, plural the·od·i·cies.

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

theodicy

/ θɪˈɒdɪsɪ /

noun

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

Derived Forms

• theˌodiˈcean, adjective

Other Words From

• the·odi·cean adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of theodicy¹

1790–1800; theo- + Greek dík(ē) “justice” + -y ³( def ), modeled on French théodicée, a coinage of Leibniz

Word History and Origins

Origin of theodicy¹

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

Example Sentences

What Darwin did not realize, as he formulated his theodicy, is that sex tips the calculations strongly in our favor.

From Nautilus

This is the religious exercise known as theodicy: explaining why God allows bad things to happen to good people.

From The Daily Beast

Leibnitz, in his Monadology, and more especially his Theodicy, witnessed to his belief in this doctrine.

From Project Gutenberg

No theology, no theodicy, has ever attributed to God this title.

From Project Gutenberg

Then in the second place, the Theodicy itself is peculiarly rich in historical material.

From Project Gutenberg

And if we are to consider Leibniz historically, we cannot do better than take up his Theodicy, for two reasons.

From Project Gutenberg

Its whole theodicy is a work not of genius but of imagination, a patching up of neo-Platonic ideas.

From Project Gutenberg