What does doxology mean?
A doxology is a short formula or hymn of praise to God, most familiar within Christian worship, where it traditionally concludes psalms, canticles, prayers, or entire services. The best-known example is the Gloria Patri ('Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost'), while among English-speaking Protestants the phrase 'the Doxology' usually refers to the hymn beginning 'Praise God from whom all blessings flow.' Derived from the Greek doxa ('glory') and logia ('saying'), the word entered English in the seventeenth century and belongs to the same family as 'orthodox' and 'paradox.' Though primarily a technical term of liturgy, doxology is occasionally extended figuratively to any effusive expression of praise, giving it a graceful, elevated register that writers sometimes exploit for rhetorical effect.
nounA short hymn or formula of praise to God, especially one used at the end of a psalm, canticle, or other part of Christian liturgy; the term is also applied to the familiar hymn 'Praise God from whom all blessings flow.'
- A liturgical formula or short hymn ascribing glory to God, such as the Gloria Patri ('Glory be to the Father...').
- Specifically, the hymn beginning 'Praise God from whom all blessings flow,' sung widely in Protestant churches.
- By extension, any expression of praise or glorification.
"The congregation rose to sing the doxology at the close of the service."
"The choir concluded the evening service with a soaring doxology."
"His memoir ends with what can only be described as a doxology to his mentors, praising them in extravagant terms."
Regular plural; used when referring to multiple praise formulas across different traditions or services.
"The hymnal collects doxologies from both Eastern and Western liturgical traditions."
The word comes from Greek doxa, meaning 'glory' — the same root that gives us 'paradox,' literally an opinion 'against' received glory.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of doxology
Doxology derives from the Greek doksologia, formed from doxa ('glory, honor') and -logia ('speaking'), thus literally 'a saying of glory.' The Greek root doxa also underlies 'orthodox' ('right belief') and 'paradox' ('contrary to expectation'), while its Latinized descendant dogma gave English 'dogma.' The word was adopted into English in the early seventeenth century, when Reformation-era debates about liturgy made precise terminology for forms of praise useful.
Related word forms
How doxology is actually used
The word is formal and almost entirely confined to religious and literary contexts; it carries a reverent connotation. In Protestant churches, 'the Doxology' with a definite article typically refers to Thomas Ken's hymn 'Praise God from whom all blessings flow' (c. 1674), so capitalization is common when referring to that specific text.
Easily confused with doxology
A taxonomy is a system of classification (from Greek taxis 'arrangement'), whereas a doxology is a hymn or formula praising God (from Greek doxa 'glory').