Manichaean

noun

Man·​i·​chae·​an ˌma-nə-ˈkē-ən 

variants or Manichean or Manichee

ˈma-nə-ˌkē 

1

: a believer in a syncretistic religious dualism (see dualism sense 3) originating in Persia in the third century a.d. and teaching the release of the spirit from matter through asceticism

2

: a believer in religious or philosophical dualism

Manichaean adjective

or Manichean

Manichaeanism noun

or Manicheanism

ˌma-nə-ˈkē-ə-ˌni-zəm 

Manichaeism noun

or Manicheism

ˈma-nə-(ˌ)kē-ˌi-zəm 

Examples of Manichaean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead of settling for Manichaean us-versus-them categories, movements beset on both sides need to clearly define their own worldview, their own values, their own set of plans. — David Brooks, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin manichaeus, from Late Greek manichaios, from Manichaios Manes died about a.d. 276 Persian founder of the sect

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Manichaean

• adlerian
• caesarian
• cyclopean
• european
• grammarian
• hercynian
• huronian
• jacobean
• maccabean
• manichean
• mullerian
• mycenaean