deity

noun

de·​i·​ty ˈdē-ə-tē  ˈdā- 

plural deities

1

a

: the rank or essential nature of a god or goddess : divinity

b

Deity : god sense 1, supreme being

2

: a god (see god entry 1 sense 2) or goddess

the deities of ancient Greece

3

: one exalted or revered as supremely good or powerful

… such established American deities as Daniel Boone, Kit Carson …

—J. D. Hart

the deities of the banking world

Synonyms of deity

• god

Examples of deity in a Sentence

to the ancient Greeks, Zeus was the deity who ruled over the sky and weather, and Poseidon was god of the sea

we prayed to the Deity for guidance

Recent Examples on the Web

Along with a plethora of deities, mythology is also full of legendary mortal heroes like King Arthur and the Irish Fionn. — Elisa Cinelli, Parents, 6 Sep. 2026

The symbolic funeral pyres were surrounded by offerings to Hindu deities as relatives gathered to perform the final rites. — Shristi Kafle, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Her massive concrete site-work, which takes up the entirety of the Geffen Galleries plaza, is peppered with fragmentary representations of the Mesoamerican deity Quetzalcoatl and the simulated footprints of Californian fauna. — George Baker, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026

Many Hindus today identify as Shaivas, Vaishnavas, or Shaktas, sectarian groups that, respectively, worship Shiva, Vishnu, or Shakti as supreme, with all other deities considered as manifestations or subordinates. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English deitee, from Anglo-French deité, from Late Latin deitat-, deitas, from Latin deus god; akin to Old English Tīw, god of war, Latin divus god, dies day, Greek dios heavenly, Sanskrit deva heavenly, god

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for deity

• contemporaneity
• heterogeneity
• inhomogeneity
• homogeneity
• simultaneity
• spontaneity

Kids Definition

deity

noun

de·​i·​ty ˈdē-ət-ē 

plural deities

1

a

: divinity sense 2

b

capitalized : god sense 1

the Deity

2

a

: god sense 2

b

: goddess sense 1

Etymology

Middle English deitee "the nature of being divine," from early French deité (same meaning), derived from Latin deus "god" — related to adieu, adios