Heathen vs Infidel: What’s the Difference?
The difference at a glance
Heathen implies someone outside of the mainstream faith tradition. Infidel is used by one religion to describe a person who does not share their specific belief.
Example sentences are illustrative learning examples, not verified quotations.
What does Heathen mean?
noun / adjective · /ˈhiː.ðən/
Originally: a person not belonging to the Christian, Jewish, or Muslim faith — literally a 'heath-dweller', one who lived outside the city and its religion. Now: anyone considered irreligious, uncivilised, or outside the dominant moral order.
Explore HeathenHeathen in a sentence
'Heathen' literally means 'person from the heath' — the countryside outside the city. Geography as theology.
She called her refusal to observe Easter 'heathen'. Her grandmother agreed.
What does Infidel mean?
noun · /ˈɪn.fɪ.dəl/
A person who has no religion or whose religion is not that of the majority — used historically by both Christian and Islamic authorities to define and denigrate those outside their faith. The word literally means 'unfaithful'.
Explore InfidelInfidel in a sentence
Crusades and jihads both defined their enemies as infidels — the word functioned as both identification and justification.
The infidel is not wicked by the definition of their own faith — only by the definition of the faith calling them one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Heathen and Infidel?
Heathen implies someone outside of the mainstream faith tradition. Infidel is used by one religion to describe a person who does not share their specific belief.
What does Heathen mean?
Originally: a person not belonging to the Christian, Jewish, or Muslim faith — literally a 'heath-dweller', one who lived outside the city and its religion. Now: anyone considered irreligious, uncivilised, or outside the dominant moral order.
What does Infidel mean?
A person who has no religion or whose religion is not that of the majority — used historically by both Christian and Islamic authorities to define and denigrate those outside their faith. The word literally means 'unfaithful'.