noun
Uncommon
deity
DEE-ih-tee
Deity (noun) means a god or goddess. Example: “Ancient Egyptians worshipped many deities, including Ra and Isis.”
noun
1
A god or goddess.
"Every act of a Roman, from birth to death, from dawn to night, was controlled and supervised by some presiding deity."
— Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs (1961)
"Ancient Egyptians worshipped many deities, including Ra and Isis."
"In the story, the villagers prayed to a deity who controlled the rain."
"The temple was built to honour a deity of the harvest."
2
The state or quality of being divine.
"The theologians debated the nature of Christ's deity."
"Many early writers defended the deity of their leader against his critics."
"Ancient rulers sometimes claimed deity, insisting their power came from heaven."
How to use deity
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA god, or the quality of being divine.
Common pairings
ancient deities
a minor deity
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Word forms
- Plural
- deities
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In the story, the villagers prayed to a _____ who controlled the rain.
Etymology
From Middle French deité, from Latin deitās, built from deus ("god").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for deity
See all rhymes for deity →Frequently asked questions
What does “deity” mean?
The word “deity” means a god or goddess. In plain terms, a god, or the quality of being divine.
How do you pronounce “deity”?
“Deity” is pronounced DEE-ih-tee (/ˈdi.ə.ti/ in IPA).
How do you use “deity” in a sentence?
Here is “deity” used in a sentence: “The theologians debated the nature of Christ's deity.”
What part of speech is “deity”?
“Deity” is a noun.
Where does the word “deity” come from?
The word “deity” comes from Latin. From Middle French deité, from Latin deitās, built from deus ("god").
Is “deity” a common word?
“Deity” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “deity” have?
“Deity” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a god or goddess.
What is the difference between a deity and a god?
Deity and god are largely interchangeable when referring to a divine being, though deity is a more formal or academic term often used in religious studies to refer to any god or goddess across cultures. "God" (capitalized) is also used specifically for the single deity of monotheistic religions, whereas "deity" is more neutral and general.
Can deity refer to a quality rather than a being?
Yes, deity can also mean the state or quality of being divine, rather than naming a specific god or goddess. In this sense it is used more abstractly, as in discussions of "the deity of Christ" or "claims to deity."
Is deity a formal word?
Deity tends to appear in formal, academic, or theological writing rather than everyday conversation, where "god" or "goddess" is more common. It is the standard term in comparative religion and mythology for any divine being.
