polytheism

noun poly·the·ism \ ˈpä-lē-(ˌ)thē-ˌi-zəm \

Definition of polytheism

:belief in or worship of more than one god

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polytheist

play \-ˌthē-ist\ adjective or noun

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polytheistic

play \ˌpä-lē-thē-ˈis-tik\ or less commonly polytheistical play \-ˈis-ti-kəl\ adjective

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Recent Examples of polytheism from the Web

Muslims traditionally go and visit the tombs and sometimes pray at them, a practice the militants loathe as a form of polytheism, revering someone other than God.

— lee keath, The Seattle Times, "A Mosul mosque in rubble, victim of militants’ destruction," 29 June 2017
Muslims traditionally go and visit the tombs and sometimes pray at them, a practice the militants loathe as a form of polytheism, revering someone other than God.

— Washington Post, "A Mosul mosque in rubble, victim of militants’ destruction," 29 June 2017
Islamic State has even demolished some mosques, saying they were used to venerate saints, which Islamic State considers a form of polytheism.

— susannah george, Orange County Register, "Rubble and ash in Mosul museum retaken from Islamic State," 8 Mar. 2017
For example: asceticism (11) and hedonism (90); lack of religiousness (118), Christianity (32), and polytheism (157); militarism (135) and loss of army discipline (125).

— samuel arbesman, WIRED, "210 Reasons for the Fall of the Roman Empire," 26 June 2013

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