heathen

noun
UK: /ˈhiː.ðən/
US: /ˈhiː.ðən/

  1. A person who does not belong to a widely held religion (especially one who is not a Christian, Jew, or Muslim) as viewed by someone who does.

    1. The missionaries went to convert the heathen tribes.
    2. Centuries ago, those who did not believe in God were considered heathen by many.

Synonyms

pagan unbeliever infidel
heathen adjective

  1. Relating to or characteristic of heathens; irreligious, uncivilized or unenlightened.

    1. They rejected what they saw as heathen practices.
    2. Some considered their customs to be heathen, but they were deeply meaningful to them.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "heathen" is /ˈhiː.ðən/ in British English and /ˈhiː.ðən/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "heathen": pagan, unbeliever, infidel.

Example usage of "heathen": "The missionaries went to convert the heathen tribes.". More examples on the page.