Main Entry:

her·e·sy

Pronunciation:

\ˈher-ə-sē, ˈhe-rə-\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural her·e·sies

Etymology:

Middle English heresie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin haeresis, from Late Greek hairesis, from Greek, action of taking, choice, sect, from hairein to take

Date:

13th century

1 a: adherence to a religious opinion contrary to church dogma b: denial of a revealed truth by a baptized member of the Roman Catholic Church c: an opinion or doctrine contrary to church dogma2 a: dissent or deviation from a dominant theory, opinion, or practice b: an opinion, doctrine, or practice contrary to the truth or to generally accepted beliefs or standards