Dictionary

polytheism en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /pɒl.ɪˈθiː.ɪz.əm/

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *pleh₁-der. Proto-Indo-European *polh₁ús Ancient Greek πολύς (polús) Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *dʰéh₁s Proto-Indo-European *dʰh₁sós Proto-Hellenic *tʰehós Ancient Greek θεός (theós) French polythéismeder. English polytheism From French polythéisme, from Ancient Greek πολύς (polús, “many”) and θεός (theós, “god”), corresponding to poly- + theism.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) The belief in the existence of multiple gods.
   • And remember when Lokmân said unto his son, as he admonished him, Oh my son, give not a partner unto GOD; for polytheism is a great impiety. 1734, George Sale, transl., Alcoran of Mohammed:
2. (countable, uncountable) A religion or belief system with multiple gods.
   • The Chaldeans worshipped the seven planets. These seven planets were the "Seven Great Gods" of the ancients, and constituted a polytheism, the component members of which varied in importance, with the moon occupying the premier position. 1941, George Ryley Scott, Phallic Worship: A History of Sex and Sex Rites in Relation to the Religions of All Races from Antiquity to the Present Day, London: T. Werner Laurie, page 14:

Forms

Relateds

polytheistic · polytheistically · henotheism · pantheon · atheism · polydeist · theism · polytheistical · kathenotheism · monotheism · polytheist · polydeism

Translations (87)

km ពហុទេពនិយម (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · kk көптәңірлік (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · az çoxtanrıçılıq (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · bn বহুঈশ্বরবাদ (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · sv polyteism (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · ca politeisme (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · lt politeizmas (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · bg многобожие (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · fi polyteismi (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · et polüteism (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · io politeismo (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · sw ushirikina (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · da polyteisme (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · yue 多神教 (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · ar تَعَدُّد الْآلِهَة (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · vo mödagod (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · sk polyteizmus (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · hu politeizmus (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · de Polytheismus (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · gug tupã hetávare jerovia (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · ast politeísmu (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · hy պոլիթեիզմ (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · sh politeizam (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · sh mnogoboštvo (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · ko 다신교 (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · es politeísmo (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · he פוליתאיזם (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · ko 다신론 (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · la polytheismus (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · ru многобо́жие (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · fi monijumalisuus (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · uk багатобо́жжя (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · pl wielobóstwo (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · sh политеизам (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · el πολυθεϊσμός (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · ar شِرْك (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · ru политеи́зм (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · ur شرک (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · fa چندخدایی (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · cs polyteismus (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · lv politeisms (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · be палітэі́зм (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · az politeizm (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · th พหุเทวนิยม (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · ga ildiachas (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · sk mnohobožstvo (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · be шматбо́жжа (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · ka მრავალღმერთიანობა (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · vi thuyết đa thần (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · be мнагабо́жжа (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · br liesdoueegezh (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · mt politeiżmu (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · fa شرک (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · az çoxallahlılıq (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · it politeismo (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · tr çoktanrıcılık (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · mk политеи́зам (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · ro politeism (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · oc politeïsme (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · ka პოლითეიზმი (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · yi פּאַליטייזאַם (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · cy amldduwiaeth (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · nl polytheïsme (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · mk многубо́штво (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · kk көпқұдайлық (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · pl politeizm (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · eo politeismo (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · uk політеї́зм (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · hi बहुदेववाद (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · is fjölgyðistrú (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · tr politeizm (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · gv yl-jeeaghys (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · sl politeizem (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · bg политеи́зъм (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · cmn 多神教 (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · sh многобоштво (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · sw upolitheisti (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · gl politeísmo (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · cs mnohobožství (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · fr polythéisme (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · gd ioma-dhiadhachd (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · ja 多神教 (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · ug كۆپ خۇدالىق دىن (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · id politeisme (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · pt politeísmo (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · hy բազմաստվածություն (belief in the existence of multiple gods) · ur کثرت پرستی (belief in the existence of multiple gods)