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The deepest difference between religions is not that between polytheism and monotheism.
Walter Kaufmann

Meaning of "polytheism" in the English dictionary

Dictionary
DICTIONARY
section

PRONUNCIATION OF POLYTHEISM

polytheism  [ˈpɒlɪθiːˌɪzəm] play
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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF POLYTHEISM

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Polytheism is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES POLYTHEISM MEAN IN ENGLISH?

polytheism

Polytheism

Polytheism is the worship of or belief in multiple deities usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own religions and rituals. It is a type of theism. Within theism, it contrasts with monotheism, the belief in a singular God. Polytheists do not always worship all the gods equally, but can be henotheists, specializing in the worship of one particular deity. Other polytheists can be kathenotheists, worshiping different deities at different times. Polytheism was the typical form of religion during the Bronze Age and Iron Age, up to the Axial Age and the gradual development of monotheism or pantheism, and atheism. It is well documented in historical religions of Classical antiquity, especially Greek polytheism and Roman polytheism, and after the decline of Greco-Roman polytheism in tribal religions such as Germanic paganism or Slavic mythology. There are various polytheistic religions practiced today, for example Shintoism, Hellenismos, Kemetism, Ásatrú, Druidry, Taoism, Thelema, Wicca, Candomble, and Chinese folk religion.

Definition of polytheism in the English dictionary

The definition of polytheism in the dictionary is the worship of or belief in more than one god.

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH POLYTHEISM


altruism
ˈæltruːˌɪzəm
anthropophuism
ˌænθrəʊˈpɒfjuːˌɪzəm
atheism
ˈeɪθɪˌɪzəm
ditheism
ˈdaɪθiːˌɪzəm
euphuism
ˈjuːfjuːˌɪzəm
henotheism
ˈhɛnəʊθiːˌɪzəm
heroism
ˈhɛrəʊˌɪzəm
Hinduism
ˈhɪndʊˌɪzəm
Judaism
ˈdʒuːdeɪˌɪzəm
Manichaeism
ˈmænɪkiːˌɪzəm
Manicheism
ˈmænɪkiːˌɪzəm
misoneism
ˌmɪsəʊˈniːˌɪzəm
multilateralism
ˌmʌltɪˈlætərəlˌɪzəm
Nietzscheism
ˈniːtʃiːˌɪzəm
Parseeism
ˈpɑːsiːˌɪzəm
pastoralism
ˈpɑːstərəlˌɪzəm
phariseeism
ˈfærɪsiːˌɪzəm
tetratheism
ˌtɛtrəˈθiːˌɪzəm
tribadism
ˈtrɪbədˌɪzəm
vampirism
ˈvæmpaɪərˌɪzəm

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE POLYTHEISM

polytechnic
polytechnical
polytene
polyteny
polytetrafluoroethylene
polythalamous
polytheist
polytheistic
polytheistical
polytheistically
polythene
polythene bag
polytocous
polytonal
polytonalism
polytonalist
polytonality
polytonally
polytrophic
polytunnel

WORDS THAT END LIKE POLYTHEISM

ableism
absenteeism
ageism
allotheism
antitheism
autotheism
casteism
cosmotheism
deism
egotheism
hylotheism
monotheism
panentheism
pantheism
physitheism
presenteeism
seism
theism
tritheism
zootheism

Synonyms and antonyms of polytheism in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

Translation of «polytheism» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF POLYTHEISM

Find out the translation of polytheism to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of polytheism from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «polytheism» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

多神教
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

politeísmo
570 millions of speakers

English

polytheism
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

बहुदेववाद
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

الشرك
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

многобожие
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

politeísmo
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

বহুদেববাদ
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

polythéisme
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Politeisme
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

Polytheismus
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

多神教
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

다신교
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Polytheism
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

tôn sùng nhiều thần thánh
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

பக்ரைன்
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

बहुआयामी
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

çoktanrıcılık
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

politeismo
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

politeizm
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

багатобожжя
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

politeism
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

πολυθεϊσμός
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

politeïsme
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

polytheism
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

polyteisme
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of polytheism

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «POLYTHEISM»

The term «polytheism» is normally little used and occupies the 110.336 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Little used
49
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «polytheism» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of polytheism
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «polytheism».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «POLYTHEISM» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «polytheism» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «polytheism» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about polytheism

EXAMPLES

QUOTES WITH «POLYTHEISM»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word polytheism.
1
Walter Kaufmann
The deepest difference between religions is not that between polytheism and monotheism.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «POLYTHEISM»

Discover the use of polytheism in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to polytheism and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Polytheism and Society at Athens
This book is the first attempt that has ever been made to give a comprehensive account of the religious life of ancient Athens.
Robert Parker, 2005
2
A Different God?: Dionysos and Ancient Polytheism
In this volume, which is the result of an international conference held in March 2009 at the Pergamon Museum Berlin, scholars from all branches of classical studies, including history of scholarship, consider this question.
Renate Schlesier, 2011
3
Islam: Questions and Answers: Polytheism (Shirk and Its ...
This book, Polytheism (Shirk) and Its Different Forms, is the fifth volume of a series of authoritative Islamic books entitled Islam: Questions And Answers.
Muhammad Saed Abdul-Rahman, 2003
4
A Local History of Greek Polytheism: Gods, People and the ...
This book provides the first comprehensive and detailed study of the deities and cults of the important Greek island-state of Aigina from the Geometric to Classical periods (800-400 BCE).
Irene Polinskaya, 2013
5
Twilight of the Gods: Polytheism in the Hebrew Bible
" David Penchansky'sTwilight of the Godsis the first accessible book that shows a historical Israel where polytheism and monotheism existed simultaneously in great conflict.
David Penchansky, 2005
6
A World Full of Gods: An Inquiry Into Polytheism
In this book John Michael Greer turns his attention to the intellectual underpinnings and superstructures of the Pagan and magical movements.
John Michael Greer, 2005
7
Kharis: Hellenic Polytheism Explored
The emphasis of this book is on the concept of kharis, the reciprocity so implicit in the practice of Hellenic polytheism.
Sarah Kate Istra Winter, 2008
8
The Myths and Gods of India: The Classic Work on Hindu ...
Our debt to Alain Danielou's scholarship and deep humanity is immeasurable." --James Kirkup, The Independent "The physical aspects of this book and its arrangements are beyond reproach.
Alain Daniélou, 1991
9
Polytheism and monotheism
Sabine Baring-Gould. CHAPTER XI THE ETHICS OF RELIGION The moral sense an intellectual faculty — Arises from the perception of pleasure and pain, and the belief in causation — Necessity of ethics to man — Growth of the moral faculty ...
Sabine Baring-Gould, 1884
10
A Million and One Gods
As A Million and One Gods shows, polytheism is considered a scandalous presence in societies oriented to Jewish, Christian, and Muslim beliefs.
Page duBois, 2014

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «POLYTHEISM»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term polytheism is used in the context of the following news items.
1
Khadijah & Muhammad's Life: Love Into Action
... ibn Nawfal, questioning the bizarre ritual worship of idols, unsatisfied with polytheism and feeling her heart yearning towards Allah alone. «Onislam.net, Jul 15»
2
Why is hate more newsworthy than love?
There should indeed be no room for racism or homophobia or transphobia in Heathenry, Druidry, Wicca, witchcraft, Paganism, polytheism, and ... «Patheos, Jul 15»
3
A pipeline to the IS
European Muslims, Fakhri says, are estranged from their religion while living in secular democracies “with their legislative polytheism and ... «DhakaTribune, Jul 15»
4
Heathens and Tolerance - Iceland, You Are *Not* Alone
Polytheism! These crazy myths! Cross-dressing Thor! Icelandic zombies! As a long-time Heathen, I wish that the second thing out of my mouth ... «Patheos, Jul 15»
5
The road to heaven: which way?
Polytheism is the belief in many gods. Pantheism; a belief that everything in nature manifests some degree of the divine, and henotheism; ... «GhanaWeb, Jul 15»
6
The Truth of Genesis: The Evil and Ignorance of Gentile Christianity …
Catholicism, an evil heathen gentile occult, had started the false doctrine of the trinity, in order to maintain the heathen practice of polytheism. «News24, Jul 15»
7
The ethics of the men of learning
... great sin because Almighty Allah considers that whoever says something that Allah did not say is beyond blasphemy and above polytheism. «Gulf Times, Jul 15»
8
Polytheist Day of Protest and Remembrance
For me, this idea is not in conflict with my polytheism. If you use my prayer, feel free to adapt it as you see fit, and substitute the name of a deity ... «Patheos, Jul 15»
9
In Reply to Rabbi Stephen Fuchs
They were, in fact, put down over the course of a long evolution from polytheism to monolatry to monotheism (and as Rabbi Sherwin Wine ... «Patheos, Jul 15»
10
Many deities, one beloved
It is so tempting to claim that polyamory and polytheism are a natural combination… After all, they both start with poly, and they both involve ... «Patheos, Jul 15»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Polytheism [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/polytheism>. Apr 2024 ».
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