heterodox

adjective

het·​ero·​dox ˈhe-tə-rə-ˌdäks 

ˈhe-trə-

1

: contrary to or different from an acknowledged standard, a traditional form, or an established religion : unorthodox, unconventional

heterodox ideas

2

: holding unorthodox opinions or doctrines

a heterodox religious sect

Did you know?

Hot take: individuals often see other people’s ideas as unconventional while regarding their own as common sense. On second thought, this take may be more on the mild side—in other words, closer to orthodox (“conventional”) insight about human nature than to heterodox (“unconventional” or “contrary”) opinion. Both orthodox and heterodox developed from the same root, the Greek doxa, meaning “opinion.” Heterodox combines doxa with heter-, a combining form meaning “other” or “different”; orthodox pairs doxa with orth-, meaning “correct” or “straight.”

Synonyms

• dissentient
• dissenting
• dissident
• heretical
• heretic
• iconoclastic
• maverick
• nonconformist
• nonorthodox
• out-there
• unconventional
• unorthodox

Examples of heterodox in a Sentence

a Christian clergyman with a very heterodox opinion on the divinity of Jesus

her heterodox approach to teaching science initially met with some resistance from her peers

Recent Examples on the Web

The Kremlin collaborated with ideologically heterodox leaders such as Indira Gandhi in India, Gamal Abdel Nasser in Egypt, and Ruhollah Khomeini in Iran. —Jeremy Friedman, Foreign Affairs, 17 July 2024

Iran’s soft power stems in part from the long history of Sunni Arab domination over regional minorities, whether these have been Shiite, Christian, heterodox, or Kurdish. —Steven Simon, Foreign Affairs, 3 Feb. 2021

In Saito’s heterodox reading, there are two Marxes, only one of whom is correct. —E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2024

The company recruited some big name writers from other media outlets such as Glenn Greenwald, Matthew Yglesias, Andrew Sullivan, Bari Weiss and Heather Cox Richardson, many of whom champion free speech, heterodox thinking and broad discourse. —Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin heterodoxus, from Greek heterodoxos, from heter- + doxa opinion — more at doxology

First Known Use

circa 1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

heterodox

adjective

het·​ero·​dox ˈhet-ə-rə-ˌdäks 

1

: opposed to established opinions, beliefs, or standards : unorthodox

2

: holding or expressing unaccepted beliefs or opinions