demigod

noun demi·god \ ˈde-mē-ˌgäd \

|Updated on: 24 Jul 2018

Definition of demigod

1 : a mythological being with more power than a mortal but less than a god

2 : a person so outstanding as to seem to approach the divine

the demigods of jazz

See demigod defined for English-language learners

See demigod defined for kids

Recent Examples of demigod from the Web

When Kavanaugh is confirmed, the left will no longer be able to rely on demigods in black robes to make law from the bench.

— john kass, chicagotribune.com, "How to maintain the republic? Originalist justices like Brett Kavanaugh," 10 July 2018
With his magical fishhook, the demigod pulled up the islands from the ocean floor.

— vanessa hua, SFChronicle.com, "Stargazing summer," 5 July 2018
And Brolin was cool with choking out demigod Loki (Tom Hiddleston), a longtime Marvel favorite.

— bryan alexander, USA TODAY, "'Sicario' star Josh Brolin is smiling over his killer summer, even with superhero deaths," 26 June 2018
Disney’s 2016 animated adventure comedy is about an ancient Polynesian chieftain’s daughter who seeks out the demigod Maui to stop a terrible curse.

— elizabeth marie himchak, Pomerado News, "Free summer movies return to local parks," 13 June 2018
Musk’s most devoted fans were eager to have fun, too, trading the sobering reality of Tesla’s shaky financial prospects for a chance to worship at the altar of an authentic Silicon Valley demigod.

— maya kosoff, The Hive, "Why Can’t Investors Just Let Elon Musk Have Fun?," 18 May 2018
No-hitters belong to the game’s resident demigods like Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer, and to names long forgotten like Bud Smith and Chris Heston.

— jon tayler, SI.com, "Sean Manaea Stuns Everyone by No-Hitting Baseball's Best Team," 22 Apr. 2018
Over the next few weeks, these larvae will shape-shift into ponderous insects, whose males have a can opener for a forehead and a name previously owned by a Roman demigod.

— jason bittel, National Geographic, "Watch a Sausage-Size Insect Transform From Larva to Beetle," 11 May 2018
Most teams, especially ones with glitzy high-round draft picks, are strictly ride or die with their demigod QBs.

— carlos monarrez, Detroit Free Press, "Can Detroit Lions follow Eagles' blueprint and win Super Bowl?," 6 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'demigod.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of demigod

1530

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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Other Mythology and Folklore Terms

elysian, fay, muse, nimbus, phoenix

DEMIGOD Defined for English Language Learners

demigod

noun

Definition of demigod for English Language Learners

: an extremely impressive or important person : a person who seems like a god in some way
: a person in mythology who has some of the powers of a god : a being in mythology who is part god and part human