neopagan

[ nee-oh-pey-guhn ]

noun

1. a modern practitioner of a specific pre-Christian polytheistic religious tradition or of the worship of nature, fertility, etc., as represented by various deities:

   Germanic neopagans call their summer solstice festival Litha.

   As a neopagan, I try to counter misconceptions about my faith wherever I find them.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or participating in the modern revival of interest in a specific pre-Christian polytheistic religious tradition or the worship of nature, fertility, etc., as represented by various deities:

   There is no set teaching on vegetarianism within the diverse neopagan communities.

Usage Note

Some people object to the label neopagan and prefer pagan, polytheist, or a more specific term. As with any other matter of personal identity, the best way to refer to someone's religious beliefs is the word or name they have told you they prefer.

Word History and Origins

Origin of neopagan¹

First recorded in 1865–70; neo- ( def ) + pagan ( def )

Example Sentences

She also gravitated toward the neopagan goddess movement, engrossing herself in the study of ancient religions and the psychological theories of Carl Jung.

From Washington Post

My working partner and I will close the ritual with words that Starhawk, one of the leaders of the neopagan community, wrote not long before we were born but that nonetheless feel traditional to us: "The Circle is open but always unbroken. May the peace of the Goddess go in your heart. Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again."

From Slate

I looked a little bit into him, and he clearly seems to be heavily influenced by a very recent, related theology, which is neopagan Odinism.

From Salon

He gained fame when it was revealed he was a Theodist, a follower of a neopagan faith that worships Norse gods, but he lost to Grace Meng, the first Asian in the city elected to Congress — a triumph, spoken of in fear or delight, and plied as proof of the Asian muscle.

From New York Times

After the democratic transition, he backed Mr. Walesa’s successful presidential campaign in 1990, but his support was less helpful in 1995, when Mr. Walesa lost to a former Communist, Aleksander Kwasniewski, whom the cardinal called a “neopagan.”

From New York Times