theology

noun

the·​ol·​o·​gy thē-ˈä-lə-jē 

plural theologies

1

: the study of religious faith, practice, and experience

especially : the study of God and of God's relation to the world

2

a

: a theological theory or system

Thomist theology

a theology of atonement

b

: a distinctive body of theological opinion

Catholic theology

3

: a usually 4-year course of specialized religious training in a Roman Catholic major seminary

Examples of theology in a Sentence

He has an interest in theology and pastoral work.

The bishop was opposed to the group's theology.

Recent Examples on the Web

Tenure at Boston University, where Martin Luther King Jr. earned his doctorate in theology. —Rachel Poser January Lavoy Krish Seenivasan David Mason, New York Times, 4 June 2024

Sister Janice Farnham, his professor of church theology, traveled more than 10 hours on a round trip to visit Martin's father in the hospital. —NPR, 3 June 2024

Daybell has written several apocalyptic novels based loosely on Mormon theology. —Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 2 June 2024

The strife between the two groups today, however, is rooted not in theology but in a struggle for power. —Vali Nasr, Foreign Affairs, 2 Dec. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Middle English theologie, from Anglo-French, from Latin theologia, from Greek, from the- + -logia -logy

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing theology

• dogmatic theology
• liberation theology
• natural theology
• practical theology
• systematic theology

Kids Definition

theology

noun

the·​ol·​o·​gy thē-ˈäl-ə-jē 

plural theologies

1

: the study of religion

2

: a set of religious beliefs

theologian

ˌthē-ə-ˈlō-jən

noun

theological

-ˈläj-i-kəl

adjective