Heresy
noun /ˈhɛr.ɪ.si/ — Belief contrary to orthodox doctrine; intellectual rebellion
Definition
A belief or opinion contrary to the official doctrine of a religion or other established institution. To be heretical is to deviate from the accepted — and in historical contexts, heresy was punishable by death. In modern usage: any wildly unorthodox or controversial opinion.
Beyond the definition
Heresy carries the weight of all the people killed for thinking differently — for believing something the institution found threatening. In modern usage, it names the intellectual courage required to think outside the consensus, which is a virtue wearing the clothes of a crime.
Origin & history
Greek: hairesis (choice, sect, school of thought). The word originally simply meant making a choice — selecting one school of thought over another. The negative connotation was imposed by the institution that claimed the right to define orthodoxy.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The scientist's heresy — heliocentrism — took two centuries to become orthodoxy.
In modern corporate culture, questioning strategy can be treated as heresy.
The history of progress is the history of yesterday's heresy becoming today's consensus.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Heresy” when the meaning fits your context: A belief or opinion contrary to the official doctrine of a religion or other established institution. To be heretical is to deviate from the accepted — and in historical contexts, heresy was punishable by death. In modern usage: any wildly unorthodox or controversial opinion.
Synonyms
heterodoxy, unorthodoxy, dissent
Antonyms
orthodoxy, conformity, doctrine
Related words
Heresy vs apostasy
Heresy is holding a belief that contradicts established doctrine. Apostasy is the total abandonment or renunciation of one's faith.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Debating Unorthodox Paths
Two adults argue at a crossroads, pointing towards paths of light and shadow.
Arguing for a path into the shadow can be viewed as an act of heresy against the path of light. The philosophical divide here represents the conflict between official, accepted truths and the heterodox ideas that challenge established systems.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Heresy" mean?
Heresy is noun meaning: Belief contrary to orthodox doctrine; intellectual rebellion. A belief or opinion contrary to the official doctrine of a religion or other established institution. To be heretical is to deviate from the accepted — and in historical contexts, heresy was punishable by death. In modern usage: any wildly unorthodox or controversial opinion.
Where does the word "Heresy" come from?
Greek: hairesis (choice, sect, school of thought). The word originally simply meant making a choice — selecting one school of thought over another. The negative connotation was imposed by the institution that claimed the right to define orthodoxy.