theodicy

[ thee-od-uh-see ]

/ θiˈɒd ə si /

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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.

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Origin of theodicy

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

OTHER WORDS FROM theodicy

the·od·i·ce·an, adjective

Words nearby theodicy

theocrasy, theocrat, theocratic, Theocritus, odds are, the, theodicy, theodolite, Theodora, Theodorakis, Theodore, Theodore I

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use theodicy in a sentence

What Darwin did not realize, as he formulated his theodicy, is that sex tips the calculations strongly in our favor.
Why Do We Have to Die? - Issue 104: Harmony|Aaron Hirsh|August 4, 2021|Nautilus
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
Leibnitz, in his Monadology, and more especially his Theodicy, witnessed to his belief in this doctrine.
Reincarnation|Th. Pascal
No theology, no theodicy, has ever attributed to God this title.
Charles Sumner; his complete works, volume 1 (of 20)|Charles Sumner

Then in the second place, the Theodicy itself is peculiarly rich in historical material.
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
Its whole theodicy is a work not of genius but of imagination, a patching up of neo-Platonic ideas.
What is Property?|P. J. Proudhon

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 of theodicy

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