Heresy is a belief or action that most people think is wrong, because it disagrees with beliefs that are generally accepted.
It might be considered heresy to suggest such a notion.
Synonyms: unorthodoxy, apostasy, dissidence, impiety More Synonyms of heresy
2. variable noun
Heresy is a belief or action which seriously disagrees with the principles of a particular religion.
He said it was a heresy to suggest that women should not conduct services.
heresy in British English
(ˈhɛrəsɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-sies
1.
a.
an opinion or doctrine contrary to the orthodox tenets of a religious body or church
b.
the act of maintaining such an opinion or doctrine
2.
any opinion or belief that is or is thought to be contrary to official or established theory
3.
belief in or adherence to unorthodox opinion
Word origin
C13: from Old French eresie, from Late Latin haeresis, from Latin: sect, from Greek hairesis a choosing, from hairein to choose
heresy in American English
(ˈhɛrəsi)
nounWord forms: pluralˈheresies
1.
a.
a religious belief opposed to the orthodox doctrines of a church; esp., such a belief specifically denounced by the church
b.
the rejection of a belief that is a part of church dogma
2.
any opinion (in philosophy, politics, etc.) opposed to official or established views or doctrines
3.
the holding of any such belief or opinion
Word origin
ME heresie < OFr < L haeresis, school of thought, sect, in LL(Ec), heresy < Gr hairesis, a taking, selection, school, sect, in LGr(Ec), heresy < hairein, to take
Examples of 'heresy' in a sentence
heresy
And to contradict the church was heresy.
Christianity Today (2000)
Only last month, the racing media had committed similar heresy.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
A trial for heresy did not get rid of such disturbing questions.
Stewart Lamont WHEN SCOTLAND RULED THE WORLD: The Story of the Golden Age of Genius, Creativityand Exploration (2002)
Perhaps less obvious in the narrative is that heresy trials followed a set pattern and that the political sensitivity of this trial prompted full attention to procedure.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
Quotations
The heresy of one age becomes the orthodoxy of the nextHelen KellerOptimism
They that approve a private opinion, call it opinion; but they that mislike it, heresy; and yet heresy signifies no more than private opinionThomas HobbesLeviathan
In other languages
heresy
British English: heresy NOUN
Heresy is a belief or action that most people think is wrong, because it disagrees with beliefs that are generally accepted.
It might be considered heresy to suggest such a notion.
American English: heresy
Brazilian Portuguese: heresia
Chinese: 异端邪说
European Spanish: herejía
French: hérésie
German: Ketzerei
Italian: eresia
Japanese: 異論
Korean: 이단
European Portuguese: heresia
Latin American Spanish: herejía
(noun)
Definition
any belief thought to be contrary to official or established theory
It might be considered heresy to suggest such a notion.
Synonyms
unorthodoxy
apostasy
a charge of apostasy
dissidence
impiety
revisionism
iconoclasm
heterodoxy
Quotations
The heresy of one age becomes the orthodoxy of the next [Helen Keller – Optimism]They that approve a private opinion, call it opinion; but they that mislike it, heresy; and yet heresy signifies no more than private opinion [Thomas Hobbes – Leviathan]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of apostasy
Definition
abandonment of one's religious faith, political party, or cause