Heathen

5 synonyms and 1 antonym for Heathen, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — Historically, a person who does not follow one of the major world religions; more recently, a follower of modern pagan Heathenry.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

ethnic

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

pagan

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

gentile infidel heathenish

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

Historically, a person who does not follow one of the major world religions; more recently, a follower of modern pagan Heathenry.

“The missionaries set out to convert the so-called heathens.”

pagan gentile infidel

Opposites

christian

2. adj

Relating to such beliefs or practices.

“The ruins were once part of a heathen temple.”

pagan heathenish ethnic

How to use Heathen

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

heathen practices heathen gods

Historically used (often disparagingly) by Christians about non-believers; today it is mainly used either historically or as the neutral name for modern pagan Heathenry.

Etymology

Ultimately from the same root as "heath," originally describing people who lived on the wild heath outside Christianized towns.

Full origin of Heathen →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Heathen” mean?

The word “Heathen” means historically, a person who does not follow one of the major world religions; more recently, a follower of modern pagan Heathenry.

How do you use “Heathen” in a sentence?

Here is “Heathen” used in a sentence: “The missionaries set out to convert the so-called heathens.”

What part of speech is “Heathen”?

Depending on how it is used, “Heathen” can be a noun and an adjective.

Is “Heathen” a common word?

“Heathen” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Heathen” have?

“Heathen” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: historically, a person who does not follow one of the major world religions; more recently, a follower of modern pagan Heathenry.

People also searched

Christian ethnic pagan gentile infidel

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of Heathen