What does catechism mean?
A catechism is a structured summary of religious doctrine, especially Christian teaching, arranged as a series of questions and answers to be memorized. The form dates back to the early church, where new converts were instructed through oral questioning before baptism, and it became central to religious education after the Reformation: Luther, Calvin, and the Catholic Church all produced influential catechisms, the most widely known today being the Catechism of the Catholic Church. By extension, the word describes any fixed set of questions and answers or a body of core principles — political creeds, scientific orthodoxies, even corporate values can be described as catechisms, usually with a hint of irony about rote conformity. Derived from Greek roots meaning 'to instruct orally' or literally 'to sound down into the ears,' the term retains a formal, somewhat traditional tone. It remains useful both for discussing religious education precisely and for critiquing doctrinal thinking in secular life.
nounA summary of the principles of Christian doctrine in the form of questions and answers, used for religious instruction. More broadly, any set of questions and answers, or a body of fundamental principles presented in question-and-answer form.
- A formal summary of Christian doctrine, typically in question-and-answer format, used for religious instruction.
- Any systematic set of questions and answers or a body of basic principles on any subject, often used figuratively or ironically (e.g., 'the catechism of modern economics').
"The children recited the catechism from memory at Sunday school."
"Luther's Small Catechism was designed so that parents could teach the faith at home."
"He treated the company handbook like a catechism, reciting its rules with unquestioning devotion."
The standard plural; commonly used when comparing different traditions' instructional texts, such as Lutheran and Catholic catechisms.
"Historians compared several Reformation-era catechisms to trace how doctrine was transmitted."
The word traces back to Greek 'to sound down into the ears' — ancient teachers were quite literally pouring doctrine into their pupils' ears.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of catechism
Catechism derives from the Latin 'catechismus,' which itself comes from the Greek 'katēkhismos' (κατήχισμος), meaning instruction by word of mouth. The underlying Greek verb 'katēkhein' means 'to teach orally' or literally 'to sound down into the ears' (from 'kata-' meaning down and 'ēkhein' meaning to sound). Related words sharing this root include catechize, catechetical, and catechumen, the latter referring to a person receiving instruction before baptism. The word entered English via Latin in the late medieval or early modern period and became especially prominent during the Reformation era.
Related word forms
How catechism is actually used
The word carries a primarily religious register and, when applied to non-religious subjects, often has an ironic or mildly critical tone, suggesting rote learning or unquestioning acceptance of doctrine. Capitalized forms refer to specific official texts, such as the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Easily confused with catechism
Catechism is a noun referring to a text or set of teachings, while catechize is a verb meaning to instruct someone using such questions and answers.