orthodox

1 of 2

adjective

or·​tho·​dox ˈȯr-thə-ˌdäks 

1

a

: conforming to established doctrine especially in religion

orthodox principles

the orthodox interpretation

b

: conventional

took an orthodox approach to the problem

orthodox medicine

2

capitalized : of, relating to, or constituting any of various conservative religious or political groups: such as

a

: eastern orthodox

Greek Orthodox rituals

b

: of, relating to, or practicing Orthodox Judaism

The core market for these vinifera wines remains Orthodox Jews who require kosher foods for religious ceremonies.

—Thomas Matthews

orthodoxly adverb

orthodox

2 of 2

noun

plural orthodox also orthodoxes

1

: one that is orthodox

2

capitalized : a member of an Eastern Orthodox church

Did you know?

An orthodox religious belief or interpretation is one handed down by a church's founders or leaders. When capitalized, as in Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox refers to a branch within a larger religious organization that claims to honor the religion's original or traditional beliefs. The steadfast holding of established beliefs that is seen in religious orthodoxy is apparent also in other kinds of orthodox behavior. Orthodox medical treatment, for example, follows the established practices of mainstream medicine. Unorthodox thinking is known in business language as "thinking outside the box".

Synonyms

Adjective

• ceremonial
• ceremonious
• conventional
• formal
• regular
• routine

Examples of orthodox in a Sentence

Adjective

He took an orthodox approach to the problem.

She believes in the benefits of both orthodox medicine and alternative medicine.

He is a very orthodox Muslim.

I attend an Eastern Orthodox church.

My grandmother is Russian Orthodox.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Summers took issue with this portion of the guidelines specifically, preferring instead to stick with the current, orthodox view that defines monopolies by their effect on consumer prices. —Bypaolo Confino, Fortune, 21 July 2023

There was once an orthodox canon of what Morris dancing was. —Genevieve Marks, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2023

The group is open to anyone who identifies as Israeli and shares its liberal values, including those who identify as orthodox, Druse or Arab citizens of Israel. —Roni Caryn Rabin, BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2023

Parts of the plan appear to align with a shift in the GOP away from orthodox fiscal conservatism toward more government support for families. —Zachary Halaschak, Washington Examiner, 7 Aug. 2023

The 33-year-old Bone (27-6 1 KO) is a tough, veteran and orthodox fighter who is seemingly willing to take any fight, anywhere. —Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2023

Whether the victor responds to Juntos por el Cambio or Unidos por la Patria, market participants will value a moderate political stance and an orthodox policy plan based on structural reforms and an inflation stability plan. —Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes, 17 July 2023

This was orthodox physic, consistent with Galen's view that bloody fluxes could overheat the brain, causing anger, rashness and madness. —Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 10 Jan. 2014

Other contemporary composers, such Arvo Pärt and the late John Tavener, have tapped into a musical representation of orthodox Christianity offering spiritual salve to a wider mainstream audience. —Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2023

Noun

Conventional orthodox Christians have to grapple with perplexing predictions in the Bible itself. —Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 22 May 2011

Nathan Diament, executive director of the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center, told ABC News the FBI contacted him on Thursday to help get the word out to New Jersey's orthodox synagogues. —Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2022

Just as pragmatic liberals pursue piecemeal reforms and orthodox Marxists hold out for the proletarian revolution, the lodestar of the PowerPoint left is ideological realignment. —Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 24 May 2021

This is true for the left and the right: The trans community can get ads addressing their concerns just as easily as the religiously orthodox can addressing theirs. —Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner, 10 Jan. 2020

That had the effect of enforcing a very bland neutrality in radio and television, one that really favored well-established, orthodox, left-of-center views and conservatives hated that. —Andrew Marino, The Verge, 13 Aug. 2019

The decision was seen by many as supportive of central-bank autonomy while bringing an orthodox although sometimes critical voice to the bank’s policy-setting board. —Juan Montes, WSJ, 8 Oct. 2018

Also in the region Mr. Heath, who specializes in econometrics and monetary policy, is widely seen as an orthodox economist. —Juan Montes, WSJ, 26 Sep. 2018

Just imagine: an encased farce of brined and smoked brisket dragged through the garden of the orthodox Chicago condiments. —Mike Sula, Chicago Reader, 12 July 2018

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Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English orthodoxe, from Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French orthodoxe, from Late Latin orthodoxus, from Late Greek orthodoxos, from Greek orth- + doxa opinion — more at doxology

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

orthodox

adjective

or·​tho·​dox

ˈȯr-thə-ˌdäks

1

: holding established beliefs especially in religion

an orthodox Christian

2

: approved as measuring up to some standard : usual, conventional

take an orthodox approach to a problem

3

capitalized

a

: eastern orthodox

b

: of or relating to Orthodox Judaism

orthodoxly adverb

Etymology

Adjective

from early French orthodoxe or Latin orthodoxus, both meaning "orthodox," from Greek orthodoxos (same meaning), from orthodoxein "to have the right or true opinion," derived from orthos "right, true" and doxa "opinion"

Word Origin

When someone has the same opinions and beliefs as those held by most other people, these opinions are usually considered the "right" opinions to have. In English such opinions might be called "orthodox." The English word orthodox comes originally from the Greek words orthos, meaning "right, true" and doxa, meaning "opinion." These two words were combined to form the Greek verb orthodoxein, meaning "to have the right opinion." From orthodoxein came the Greek adjective orthodoxos, which was borrowed into Latin as orthodoxus. The English adjective orthodox comes from this Latin adjective.