polytheism

[ pol-ee-thee-iz-uhm, pol-ee-thee-iz-uhm ]

noun

1. the doctrine of or belief in more than one god or in many gods.

polytheism

/ ˈpɒlɪθiːˌɪzəm; ˌpɒlɪˈθiːɪzəm /

noun

1. the worship of or belief in more than one god

polytheism

1. The belief in more than one god. The ancient Greeks, for example, were polytheists; their gods included Apollo , Athena , Dionysus , and Zeus . ( Compare monotheism .)

Derived Forms

• ˌpolytheˈistic, adjective
• ˈpolyˌtheist, noun
• ˌpolytheˈistically, adverb

Other Words From

• poly·theist noun
• poly·the·istic poly·the·isti·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of polytheism¹

1605–15; poly- + theism; compare French polythéisme

Example Sentences

To many outside Christianity, this looks a bit like polytheism!

From The Daily Beast

Sometimes, especially in Phoenicia, human beings were offered in sacrifice, the most repulsive peculiarity of polytheism.

From Project Gutenberg

Polytheism was dominant while their monotheism was as yet a persecuted belief.

From Project Gutenberg

They expose with superfluous with and eloquence the extravagance of Polytheism.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus before Mohammed appeared polytheism was the prevalent religion of Arabia,--a degradation even from the ancient Sabaean faith.

From Project Gutenberg

For it is not here a question simply of the dogmatic belief in Monotheism as opposed to polytheism.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• tritheism