heterodox

[ het-er-uh-doks ]

adjective

1. not in accordance with established or accepted doctrines or opinions, especially in theology; unorthodox.
2. holding unorthodox doctrines or opinions.

heterodox

/ ˈhɛtərəʊˌdɒks /

adjective

1. at variance with established, orthodox, or accepted doctrines or beliefs
2. holding unorthodox opinions

Derived Forms

• ˈheteroˌdoxy, noun

Other Words From

• heter·o·doxly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of heterodox¹

1610–20; < Greek heteródoxos of another opinion, equivalent to hetero- hetero- + dóx ( a ) opinion (Compare dokeîn to think, suppose) + -os adj. suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of heterodox¹

C17: from Greek heterodoxos holding another opinion, from hetero- + doxa opinion

Example Sentences

Trump will be looking for loyalty above all else, and screening out any whiff of heterodox or independent thinking, from his next appointees.

From Slate

It's ironic that the people behind the "cancel culture" discourse call themselves heterodox.

From Salon

A play like Harrower’s “Blackbird,” too morally disquieting to be produced by the city’s risk-averse big-budget theaters, appealed to Flynn’s heterodox side.

From Los Angeles Times

Tenet, which works with far-right commentators including Tim Pool, Dave Rubin and Benny Johnson, describes itself as a “network of heterodox commentators that focus on Western political and cultural issues” in its YouTube bio – the exact language that the Department of Justice used to describe the company they say took cash to serve Russian interests.

From Salon

Wenjie is already on thin ice after taking the fall for a heterodox journalist who passed her a copy of Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring,” and at risk of being physically forced to incriminate other innocent scientists if she stays in prison.

From New York Times