Nicene

American

[nahy-seen, nahy-seen] / naɪˈsin, ˈnaɪ sin /

adjective

of or relating to Nicaea.

Nicene British

/ ˈnaɪsiːn, naɪˈsiːən /

adjective

of or relating to Nicaea, an ancient city in NW Asia Minor, or its inhabitants

"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

Other Word Forms

non-Nicene adjective

Etymology

Origin of Nicene

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin Nīcēnus, variant of Nīcaenus < Greek Nīkaîos ( Nī́kai ( a ) Nicaea + -os adj. suffix), with -n- from Latin adj. suffix -ānus -an

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Standing in front of the basilica’s ruins, Leo, Bartholomew and other church leaders recited the Nicene Creed, the shared statement of Christian faith.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

In 325 AD, among other key decisions, more than 200 bishops at the council affirmed the belief that Jesus was the son of God, eventually leading to what is known as the Nicene Creed.

From BBC • Nov. 26, 2025

They adopted the Nicene Creed, a statement of dogma that declared Jesus was “begotten, not made” and was “consubstantial” with God, expressly embracing his divinity.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

Group members affirm the Nicene Creed, a Christian statement of belief recited weekly in Catholic and many Protestant churches.

From New York Times • Oct. 8, 2020

The second stage began with the outbreak of the controversy in 318, and continued until the Nicene Council.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 8 "Ethiopia" to "Evangelical Association" by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023