heretic

[ noun her-i-tik; adjective her-i-tik, huh-ret-ik ]

noun

1. a professed believer who maintains religious opinions contrary to those accepted by their church or rejects doctrines prescribed by that church.

   Synonyms: backslider, Protestant, recreant, apostate

2. Roman Catholic Church. a baptized Roman Catholic who willfully and persistently rejects any article of faith.
3. anyone who does not conform to an established attitude, doctrine, or principle.

   Synonyms: freethinker, skeptic, dissenter

adjective

1. heretical.

heretic

/ ˈhɛrətɪk; hɪˈrɛtɪkəl /

noun

1. RC Church a person who maintains beliefs contrary to the established teachings of the Church
2. a person who holds unorthodox opinions in any field

heretic

1. One who challenges the doctrines of an established church (see also established church ). Martin Luther was proclaimed a heretic for rejecting many of the tenets of the Roman Catholic Church .

Derived Forms

• heˈretically, adverb
• heretical, adjective

Other Word Forms

• semi·here·tic adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of heretic¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English heretik from Middle French heretique from Late Latin haereticus from Greek hairetikós “able to choose” ( Late Greek: “heretical”), equivalent to hairet(ós) “that may be taken” (verbal adjective of haireîn “to choose”) + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

I’m not even allowed to be here because I’m a heretic!

From Los Angeles Times

He had turned his back on Islam, making himself a heretic in the eyes of many.

From BBC

And he doesn't necessarily hope to, he said, which "makes me a bit of a heretic."

From Salon

It is a field of study that the modern-day heretics who have signed the New York Declaration claim has been neglected, even ridiculed.

From BBC

He made waves in 2019 when he rescinded a pair of controversial rules banning baptisms for the children of gay parents and branding same-sex couples as heretics who could face excommunication.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• dissenter
• schismatic

Quiz

Q: Fill in the blank: "Salchipapas" is a portmanteau of the Spanish words for ______ and ______.

• salt and potatoes
• sausage and French fries
• sardines and French fries

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