Word of the Day

Wednesday July 22, 2009

heterodox [HET-uh-ruh-doks]

adjective

Contrary to or differing from, some acknowledged standard, as the Bible, the creed of a church; unorthodox.
Holding unorthodox opinions or doctrines.

Although Huckabee took strong stands against abortion and same- sex marriage, his record on taxes - a key pillar of Republican orthodoxy - was distinctly heterodox.

Richard Fausset, "Faith flavors Huckabee's Republican brand", Journal - Gazette, Dec. 2 2007
In Vowell's account, the outspoken Mrs. Hutchinson runs into trouble with fellow Puritans because of her heterodox theological views, and we know what that means.

Philip Marchand, "New take on the book-loving Puritans", National Post, Oct 25, 2008
When you last saw your friend,--less than a year after you left college,--he was the most sensible and agreeable of men; he had no heterodox notions; he agreed with you; you could even tell what sort of a wife he would select, and if you could dothat, you held the key to his life.

Charles Dudley Warner (1829-1900) American essayist and novelist. Backlog Studies (1872)

Origin of the Word

Heterodox, approximately 1619, derives from Greek heterodoxos, from heteros "the other" + doxa "opinion."