paganism

See also: păgânism

English

Etymology

From Latin pāgānismus (heathenism), from pāgānus (peasant, rural, rustic). The term was used pejoratively by early Muslims and Christians to belittle what remained of the native religions. By surface analysis, pagan + -ism.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈpeɪɡənɪzm̩/
  • (file)
  • Hyphenation: pa‧gan‧ism

Noun

paganism (countable and uncountable, plural paganisms)

  1. Any indigenous polytheistic religion.
    Most people in that region practise their own form of paganism.
  2. Any of a class of religions often associated with nature rituals.
    Various neopagan movements have arisen, each advancing its own form of paganism. Some are monotheist.

Coordinate terms

Translations

See also

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