heresy

/ˈherəsi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈherəsi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈher-ə-sē ˈhe-rə-/ (ame, mw)

heresy — noun

  • heresysingular
  • heresiesplural

1. a belief or teaching that goes against what a religion officially says is true,

1.名詞C2
釋義

a belief or teaching that goes against what a religion officially says is true, often leading to punishment from the religious group.

例句

In medieval Europe, the priest accused Ilan of heresy for questioning church teachings.

collocation: accuse [someone] of heresy

Dario was burned at the stake in 1320 after the bishop found him guilty of heresy.

passive religious-trial context: found guilty of heresy

同義詞
  • blasphemy

    stronger; about insulting God or sacred things, not about wrong doctrine

  • apostasy

    leaving the religion entirely, while heresy stays inside it with wrong beliefs

反義詞
  • orthodoxy

    the official, approved teaching of a religion

文法句型

heresy (of doing something)

用法筆記

Subject is usually a religious authority (priest, bishop, church court). Strongly tied to historical contexts — modern news rarely uses this literal sense outside discussions of conservative religious communities.

常見錯誤

❌The pastor disagreed and committed heresy on Sunday.
✅The pastor's sermon was condemned as heresy by the bishop.
💡heresy is the label others place on a belief, not an action you choose to perform on a given day.

2. an idea or action that strongly disagrees with what most people in a group or fi

2.名詞C2
釋義

an idea or action that strongly disagrees with what most people in a group or field accept as right or normal, often shocking them.

例句

Among classical music fans, suggesting that Mozart is boring is pure heresy.

pattern: suggesting X is heresy

Tendai claimed expensive French wine tastes like cheap Spanish wine — total heresy at the club.

intensifier: total/pure heresy

同義詞
  • sacrilege

    originally religious; now often used for treating something precious without respect

  • blasphemy

    stronger and more dramatic; suggests near-religious devotion to the topic

反義詞
  • orthodoxy

    the standard, widely accepted view in a field or group

文法句型

it is heresy to do something

heresy (to many people)

用法筆記

Often used with a slight humorous tone for strong opinions about food, music, art, or fan communities. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense has no religious authority and no real punishment — just social shock or disapproval.

常見錯誤

❌My boss thought my new idea was heresy and asked me to explain it more.
✅My boss thought my new idea was heresy and refused to even discuss it.
💡heresy implies shock and rejection, not curiosity or open discussion.