What does henotheist mean?
A henotheist is someone who worships a single deity as supreme or exclusively worthy of worship, without necessarily denying the existence of other gods. This distinguishes the term from the stricter belief of a monotheist, for whom only one god exists, and from polytheism, which involves the worship of multiple gods without a single divine ruler. Henotheism is often treated as a form or close relative of monotheism because it gives one deity a position of supreme importance. The other gods may be regarded as lesser beings, spirits, intermediaries, or powers that exist but are not central to worship. The word is uncommon in ordinary conversation and occurs chiefly in theological, anthropological, and historical discussion of religion. It is useful when describing a distinction between acknowledging several divine beings and assigning ultimate supremacy to one of them.
nounA person who adheres to henotheism, especially one who regards a single deity as supreme or exclusively worthy of worship without necessarily denying the existence of other gods.
- An adherent of henotheism who worships or treats a single deity as supreme without necessarily denying the existence of other gods.
"The henotheist defended the worship of the sun god while acknowledging the existence of other deities."
"The scholar described the community as henotheist because its members directed their principal worship toward one deity while recognizing lesser gods."
"As a henotheist, she distinguished between the supreme creator and subordinate deities associated with particular places or natural forces."
The regular plural is used when referring to individual adherents or groups of adherents.
"Several henotheists defended the distinction between the supreme deity and lesser gods."
A henotheist keeps one deity on the highest pedestal without insisting that every other god vanished from the universe.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does henotheist come from?
The word derives from Greek roots meaning “one” and “god,” through the concept of henotheism, and it was formed with the agent suffix -ist. Related English terms include monotheist, polytheist, and pantheist, all of which use forms of the Greek word for “god.” The distinction reflects a long history in the comparative study of religion, in which scholars have used “henotheist” to describe traditions centered on one supreme deity while allowing other divine beings a recognized place.
Related word forms
How henotheist is actually used
This is a specialized noun used mainly in theology, religious studies, and anthropology. It is uncommon in everyday speech and is easily confused with monotheist, although the two terms may overlap in usage.
Easily confused with henotheist
A monotheist believes that only one god exists, whereas a henotheist may acknowledge other gods while treating one as supreme or exclusively worthy of worship.
A pantheist identifies the universe or all reality with a single divine principle, whereas a henotheist worships one deity as supreme while potentially recognizing other gods.