What does polytheist mean?
A polytheist is a person who believes in or practices polytheism, the worship or acknowledgment of multiple gods or divine beings. The word is used in religious studies, mythology, anthropology, and history when describing beliefs that involve a pantheon or several separate divine figures. It should be distinguished from the more general term theist, which refers to someone who believes in the existence of a god or gods, without specifying how many. A polytheist is also different from a monotheist, whose belief system centers on one god. In ordinary discussion, polytheist is usually a descriptive and relatively formal term. It can apply both to historical religious communities and, more generally, to individuals or modern fictional or spiritual worldviews that recognize multiple divine beings.
nounA person who believes in or practices polytheism, a religion or worldview involving multiple gods or divine beings.
- A person who believes in or worships multiple gods.
"The archaeologist identified the temple as a place of worship used by a local polytheist community."
"The polytheist explained that the festival honored several distinct deities."
"Historians debated whether the ritual belonged to an earlier polytheist tradition."
The regular plural is “polytheists,” used for individuals who believe in or practice polytheism.
"Ancient Greek polytheists worshipped a variety of gods associated with different places and activities."
One person can believe in a god without being a polytheist: the distinction is in how many gods are affirmed.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does polytheist come from?
The word combines the element poly-, meaning “many,” with theist, meaning “one who believes in God or gods.” The underlying elements come from Greek polýs, “many,” and theós, “god.” The resulting English word developed as a term for a person whose religion affirmed multiple gods, corresponding to the related noun polytheism and adjective polytheistic.
Related word forms
How polytheist is actually used
The term is primarily used in discussions of religion, mythology, anthropology, and history. It is generally neutral and scholarly, though historical descriptions may use it to contrast polytheistic practices with monotheistic religions.
Easily confused with polytheist
A polytheist believes in or worships multiple gods, whereas a monotheist believes in or worships one god.
A theist believes in the existence of a god or gods, while a polytheist specifically holds that multiple gods exist or deserve worship.