Heathen

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -iːðən

Origin

Germanic: from Old English hǣþen, akin to heath on the moor, the poor, 'wild' countryside; cognate with Dutch heiden, German Heide.

Full definition of heathen

Adjective

1. not adhering to an Abrahamic religion; pagan.
2. (by extension) uncultured; uncivilized; savage, philistine.
3. Alternative capitalization of Heathen pertaining or adhering to the Germanic neo-pagan faith Heathenry.

Noun

1. A person who does not follow an Abrahamic religion; a pagan.
• V. KnoxIf it is no more than a moral discourse, he may preach it and they may hear it, and yet both continue unconverted heathens.
2. (by extension) An uncultured or uncivilized person, philistine.
3. Alternative capitalization of Heathen an adherent of the Germanic neo-pagan faith of Heathenry.

Derived terms

• heathendom
• heathenish
• heathenism
• heathenize
• heathenness