What does unitarianism mean?
Unitarianism denotes the belief that God is one, particularly the Christian theological position that rejects the doctrine of God as a Trinity of three persons. It also has an important historical meaning: a broader principle of religious equality and toleration associated with Unitarian reformers in Britain and elsewhere. The capitalized form “Unitarianism” can refer to the religious movement, its congregations, and its wider intellectual legacy. Unitarian arguments were influential in eighteenth-century debates over civil rights, religious freedom, and the established churches. Today, the word is most often encountered in theology, religious history, or discussions of the development of Christianity. Its principal associations are doctrinal dispute, religious dissent, and the longstanding question of how the unity of God should be understood. Although Unitarian churches continue to exist, the term is much more prominent in historical and scholarly writing than in everyday language.
nounThe theological doctrine that God is one rather than a Trinity of three persons. The term can also refer historically to religious equality and toleration, or to the movement and organizations associated with these beliefs.
- The theological doctrine that there is only one God, especially in opposition to the Christian doctrine of the Trinity.
- The broader principle of religious equality and toleration historically advocated by Unitarians and other religious dissenters.
- The historical Unitarian religious movement, including its churches, congregations, and associated theological and political traditions.
"The reform movement advocated religious toleration and the principles of unitarianism."
"The manuscript was condemned because its author had defended unitarianism rather than orthodox Trinitarian doctrine."
"In eighteenth-century Britain, unitarianism became closely associated with arguments for religious toleration and civil rights."
This plural is uncommon and would normally be used only for distinct doctrinal systems or varieties of unitarianism.
"The study compares several unitarianisms that developed independently in different religious traditions."
Unitarianism put the word “one” at the center of Christian theology—and helped ignite centuries of debate.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unitarianism come from?
The word was formed in the early seventeenth century from “Unitarian,” meaning a believer in God’s unity, together with the suffix “-ism,” which forms a noun denoting a doctrine or principle. “Unitarian” and the related words “unit,” “unite,” and “unity” all trace to Latin “unus,” meaning “one.” Unitarianism emerged from seventeenth-century European religious debates, especially disputes over the Trinity, and developed into a significant movement within British religious and political history.
Related word forms
How unitarianism is actually used
The capitalized form “Unitarianism” normally refers to the historical religious movement and its associated churches. Lowercase “unitarianism” is more likely to denote the theological doctrine itself. Modern usage is chiefly theological or historical.
Easily confused with unitarianism
Unitarianism is a doctrine or movement, whereas unitary describes something consisting of a single unit or formed into one whole.