Word

polytheism

noun C1

/pɒl.ɪˈθiː.ɪz.əm/

Meanings

noun

the belief in or worship of more than one god

noun

a religious system or culture characterized by multiple deities

Definition

Polytheism is the belief in and worship of multiple gods or deities.

Polytheism refers to a religious system in which people believe in more than one god. These gods may have different roles, powers, or areas of influence, such as the sea, war, or agriculture. Polytheistic traditions often include stories, rituals, and temples connected to various deities within a larger spiritual worldview.

Examples

In her thesis, she argues that polytheism shaped civic identity as much as politics did.
I used polytheism as a case study to compare how different societies explained natural forces.
They explored polytheism through myths, temple practices, and the social status of priesthoods.
You can see traces of polytheism in the way the epic assigns different powers to different gods.
His lecture framed polytheism as a flexible system that could absorb local deities over time.

Common mistake

Learners often confuse polytheism with atheism, but polytheism involves belief in many gods, not no gods.