Heathen Definition – Meaning and Usage in a Sentence

“Heathen” and “atheist” are examples of two words used interchangeably, yet they don’t have the same meaning. If you usually make such an error, this article is here to enlighten you. It is vital to understand words and their meaning before using them, and that is why we will discuss the heathen definition and meanings here.

“Heathen” is an old-fashion English word that means “people or nations that don’t practice Islam, Christianity, or Judaism.” This word in sentences to refers to people who do not believe in the God of the Koran or the Bible, and only a person who believes in these religions can call someone a “heathen.”

Remember that it doesn’t entirely mean that a “heathen” does not believe in God. Some do, but the only difference is that they do not believe in the same God that Muslims, Christians, or Jews believe in. Some people are “heathens” but have more than one God. It is vital to understand that all “heathens” do not share the same religion, and in most cases, you will find that different groups of “heathens” have different gods. Let’s now learn more about this word.

Definition of “Heathen”

“Heathen” means “someone who behaves as though they are not educated.” 

Note that this is not a word only used when someone educated behaves in a way that is not expected to behave. It shows that their behavior does not align with what is expected of them.

Using the word “heathen” to mean someone behaving as though they are not educated mostly applies in humor settings. Mostly among peers or friends who joke with each other. If you use it in another setting, it might be an insult. So, it is vital to be keen when using this word not to offend people.

Example sentences:

• My sister is such a heathen; she has never heard of an optometrist before.
• Stop being a heathen. What do you mean that Metaverse does not exist?
• I am not going with you to the party dressed like that; you look like a heathen.

Synonyms of the Word Heathen and Meaning

Given the complex nature of the word “heathen,” it is best to learn the close synonyms of the word and their various meanings. That will help you better understand the word. Let’s have a look.

• Gentile/Idolater/Pagan: A person who does not worship the God of the Bible.
• Atheist: Someone who believes that there is no God.
• Giaour: Non-Muslim, non-Christian, non-Jew.
• Infidel: Someone who does not believe in a religion that other persons regard as true religion.
• Profane/Secular: Not involving religion or religious matters.
• Primitive: Belonging to or characteristics or an early level of skill or development.
• Barbarian: Not civilized.
• Savage: unprincipled person.

Antonyms of the Word Heathen

“Heathen” is a rare word that does not have many antonyms. However, here is a look at some near antonyms: Muslim, Christian, Jew or Educated, Civilized.

What Is The Meaning Of Heathen?

Heathen is mainly used as a holy word to mean irreligious people. But you can also use the word to refer to a group of people whose religion, morals, customs, and beliefs are ungodly.

Example sentences:

• According to him, he survived the heathen village where they sacrificed people to their gods.
• The heathen community decided to isolate everyone who did not believe in their god.
• From the email I got from Seth, it was clear that he is a part of a heathen tribe.

Meaning Of Heathen in Various Religions

Rather than generalize what the word “heathen” means, it is vital to understand how various religions describe it. That is the best way to know how to use the word in various religious contexts.

• Muslim

According to the Muslim definition, “heathen” means “a non-muslim apart from the ahl al-kitab. According to the Koran, the word ahl al-kitab refers to religions with the holy book, like the Christians and Jews.

• Christians

According to Christians, a “heathen” is someone who doesn’t believe in the one true God. It also means idolaters. From the Bible, the word comprehends all nations except the Jews, Israelites, and Mohammedans (Muslims)

• Jews

Jews define a “heathen” as someone who does know about or worship the God of the Bible. According to the Jews, anyone that does not follow the Abrahamic religion is a “heathen.”

Family Words of Heathen

You can find the word” heathen” in various forms. Thus, it is imperative to know what these forms mean and the various ways you can use them in sentences.

Heathenism (noun): Anyone from various religions other than Islamic, Christianity, or Judaism. It can also mean rudeness, barbarism, or ignorance.

Example sentences:

• If I knew that they would display such a level of heathenism, I would not have attended the party.
• The level of heathenism I found with people practicing cults in the south was disturbing.
• I find the story of how Daniel lived in Babylon serving God despite the heathenism inspiring.

How to Use Heathen in a Sentence

“Heathen” can be used as a noun to mean a person who does not acknowledge God or an adjective to mean not acknowledging the God of Christianity. 

When using this word in a sentence, keep in mind these two definitions and ensure that you construct grammatically correct sentences. It is essential to understand a word and its meaning before constructing sentences.

Note that the word heathen is neither positive nor negative. It describes someone who does not believe in the God mentioned in various religious books. But everyone is entitled to their beliefs. For that reason, if you use “heathen” to refer to people who do not practice Islam, Christianity, or Judaism, then the word is not harmful.

However, “heathen” also has another meaning: someone behaves like they lack formal education or without moral principles. Unless you use it in a comic setting among friends or peers, it is an insult that makes it a negative word.

So to answer the question: is the word “heathen” negative or positive? The correct answer will be “it depends” on how you use the word or the setting.

10 Examples Of Heathen In A Sentence

Ready to learn more about the applications of this word in real life? Have a look at the ten sentences below for inspiration on using the word.

1. He went around the country preaching to the Heathens.
2. When she left the country for Asia, Jane had one mission to convert as many heathens as possible.
3. It is strange how Mary married a heathen despite being a staunch Christian all her life.
4. My uncle was in the army, and when we were growing up, he had great stories of how he fought great heathen armies.
5. Mark behaved like a heathen in the museum; in fact, I had to pretend that I did not know him.
6. The chief did not care about the welfare of the heathens even when they came to him with a severe problem.
7. During the football game, the cheerleader’s behavior was heathen, which is why the match had to be stopped halfway.
8. We were shocked when we talked to the heathen and found that he had no clue about religion.
9. They told the tourists that eating with their hands was a bit heathen, yet they were just following their culture.
10. The heathen idol was an elephant, a wild animal that lived in the forest.

How Do You Spell Heathen?

The spelling of the word “heathen” is ˈhiːo(ə)n/. H-e-a-t-h-e-n.

It is important to learn the correct spelling of a word if you plan to use it in your writing. Poor spelling can lead people to undermine your work.

How Do You Pronounce Heathen?

“Heathen” is pronounced as “hee.thn.” 

There is no need to put in your time and effort to learn the heathen definition, meaning, and spelling if you are not going to learn how to pronounce it. Knowing everything about this word ensures that you greatly know the vocabulary. 

Synonyms Of The Word “Heathen”

• Pagan
• Agnostic
• Ethnic
• Infidel

Antonyms Of The Word “Heathen”

• Religious
• Godly
• Christian
• Moral

How Many Syllables Are in Heathen?

The word “heathen” has two syllables.

The syllables in “heathen” are hea. then. The stressed syllable is hea.

History and Etymology of Heathen

The word “heathen” is derived from a proto-Germanic word “haithana” meaning “hearth.” Islam then adopted it and later Jews to mean “pagan” or “nonbeliever.” 

From history, the word “heathen,” meaning “nonbeliever,” is a word that refers to someone who lives in the heather. Heather is a wild upcountry where the people are uncivilized and savage. Over time as the English language evolved, “heathen” also got another meaning which is being barbaric.

When Was the Word Heathen First Used?

The word heathen was first used before the 12th century. Its origin is traced to Germany, but it is unclear the exact time it was incorporated into the English language.

Conclusion

Learning an English vocabulary by memorizing the meaning is not enough. You also need to read whole sentences to understand the word better. Once you do this, use the information you have learned to create new sentences. That is the best way to learn the word “heathen” faster.