interfaith

IPA/ˈɪntəfeɪθ/
KK[ˌɪntɚfˈeθ]IPA/ˈɪntərfeɪθ/

interfaith — adjective

  • interfaithpositive
  • more interfaithcomparative
  • most interfaithsuperlative

1. bringing together people from different religions, especially for shared events,

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

bringing together people from different religions, especially for shared events, discussion, or support.

Example

The city library hosted an interfaith panel with a monk, a pastor, and an imam.

interfaith + event noun for shared discussion

Ayana joined an interfaith youth group that packed food boxes during Ramadan and Easter.

interfaith + group for joint service work

Common collocations
  • interfaith dialogue
  • interfaith marriage
  • interfaith service
  • interfaith council
  • interfaith project
Synonyms
  • multifaith

    near-synonym; often used for shared spaces or events that include several religions

  • multireligious

    broader and more neutral; can simply describe coexistence without active cooperation

  • ecumenical

    narrower; usually used for cooperation between Christian churches

Antonyms
  • single-faith

    limited to one religion only

  • sectarian

    supporting one religious group and often excluding others

Grammar Patterns

interfaith + noun

Usage Note

Mostly used before a noun for groups, services, projects, or relationships that connect people from different religions. It often suggests cooperation or shared activity, unlike 'multireligious', which can simply describe coexistence.

Common Mistakes

Andrew is interfaith.
Andrew volunteers with an interfaith charity.
the adjective describes a group, event, or relationship involving more than one religion, not one person's belief.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Interfaith' highlights contact and cooperation between people of different religions, especially when they pray, talk, learn, or work together. 'Multifaith' is very close, but it often just labels a shared space or event that includes several faith traditions. 'Multireligious' is wider and more neutral: a city can be multireligious simply because many religions are present there, even if those groups do not interact much. 'Ecumenical' is narrower and is most often used for unity between Christian churches rather than across all religions. Choose 'interfaith' when the point is the bridge between faith communities.

interfaith ↗multifaithmultireligious ↗ecumenical ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • interfaith dialogue
  • interfaith marriage
  • interfaith council

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Formed in modern English from the prefix 'inter-', meaning 'between' or 'among', and 'faith'. The prefix comes from Latin 'inter'. The noun 'faith' reached English through Old French and ultimately goes back to Latin 'fides', meaning trust or belief. The combined adjective became common in the twentieth century as writers needed a word for contact and cooperation across religious traditions.

First known use

1932

1932, in the meaning defined above