paganism

IPA/ˈpeɪɡənɪzəm/
KK[pˈeɡənˌɪzəm]IPA/ˈpeɪɡənɪzəm/

paganism — noun

1. religious belief and worship outside the major world faiths, especially older tr

1.nounC2
Definition

religious belief and worship outside the major world faiths, especially older traditions centered on several gods.

Example

The guide explained how paganism shaped village festivals before Christianity arrived.

paganism shaped village festivals

Elise studied paganism in ancient Greece for her final history project.

study paganism in ancient history

Common collocations
  • ancient paganism
  • spread of paganism
  • survival of paganism
  • study paganism
  • reject paganism
Synonyms
  • polytheism

    more exact when the focus is belief in many gods rather than the wider religious culture

  • heathenism

    older and often more judgmental than the neutral academic use of 'paganism'

  • idolatry

    strongly disapproving and centered on worship of images, so it is narrower

Antonyms
  • monotheism

    belief in one god rather than several gods or older local deities

Grammar Patterns

paganism in [place/time]

the spread of paganism

Usage Note

Usually uncountable and common in history, archaeology, and writing about older religions. Distinguish from noun 2, which refers to present-day movements rather than religions studied mainly as part of the past.

Common Mistakes

The guide said paganisms were common in the hills.
The guide said pagan beliefs were common in the hills.
'paganism' is usually uncountable, so English does not normally make it plural.

2. present-day religious practice outside the major world faiths, often focused on

2.nounC2
Definition

present-day religious practice outside the major world faiths, often focused on nature, the seasons, and revived older customs.

Example

Layla found paganism through a full-moon group in the woods.

find paganism through a group

Eri writes about paganism and seasonal rituals on her community blog.

modern paganism and seasonal rituals

Common collocations
  • modern paganism
  • practice paganism
  • interest in paganism
  • revival of paganism
  • turn to paganism
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

modern paganism

interest in paganism

Usage Note

Usually uncountable and often used by followers themselves for modern belief communities. Distinguish from noun 1, which mainly points to older religions described in historical settings.

Common Mistakes

Camille joined a paganism circle online.
Camille joined a pagan circle online.
before a noun like 'circle', English normally uses the adjective 'pagan', not the noun 'paganism'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Polytheism, heathenism, idolatry, and neo-paganism can all appear near paganism, but they are not interchangeable. Polytheism is the most neutral and precise when the key point is belief in many gods. Heathenism is older in tone and often sounds more judgmental, especially in religious argument. Idolatry is even narrower and strongly critical, focusing on the worship of images or false gods rather than an entire religious culture. Neo-paganism belongs mainly to the modern sense, because it names present-day movements inspired by older traditions. If you are writing about ancient Europe or the early spread of Christianity, paganism is usually the broadest and safest word.

polytheism ↗heathenismidolatryneo-paganism

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • interest in paganism
  • study of paganism

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Paganism is built from pagan and the noun ending -ism. Pagan came into English through French from Latin paganus, a word that first meant a country dweller or civilian. As Christianity spread, paganus was increasingly used for people outside the Christian faith. English later added -ism to name the belief system itself, so paganism came to mean the religion, customs, or religious outlook connected with pagans.

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1