heathen

²heathen

noun

plural heathens or heathen

Definition of HEATHEN

1

: an unconverted member of a people or nation that does not acknowledge the God of the Bible

2

: an uncivilized or irreligious person

— hea·then·dom \-dəm\ noun

— hea·then·ism \-thə-ˌni-zəm\ noun

— hea·then·ize \-thə-ˌnīz\ transitive verb

Examples of HEATHEN

1. <a missionary sent to distant lands to convert the heathens>
2. <European colonizers, who considered the New World peoples to be heathens, forced them to conform to European ways.>

First Known Use of HEATHEN

before 12th century

Related to HEATHEN

Synonyms: gentile, idolater (or idolator), pagan

Related Words: atheist, giaour, infidel, misbeliever, miscreant, nonbeliever, unbeliever; non-Christian, non-Jew, non-Muslim; neo-pagan, polytheist

Near Antonyms: Christian, Jew, Muslim

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary