Definition of POLYTHEISM

Other Words from polytheism

polytheist \ ˈpä-lē-ˌthē-ist

\ adjective or noun

polytheistic \ ˌpä-lē-thē-ˈi-stik

\ or less commonly polytheistical \ ˌpä-lē-thē-ˈi-sti-kəl

\ adjective

Examples of polytheism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The result was the synthesis of polytheism with Catholicism, and the creation of Santeria and Espiritismo. — Sarah Betancourt, Longreads, "The Religion No One Talks About: My Search For Answers in an Old Caribbean Faith," 30 Mar. 2018 Both books trace the gradual emergence of monotheism from a background of polytheism. — David Wolpe, New York Times, "Two Authors Examine Biblical History for Clues About Faith," 22 Dec. 2017 Judaism, Christianity and polytheism—and rife with religious conflict. — Christopher Carroll, WSJ, "The Crescent Rising," 4 Oct. 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 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

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.