orthodox

1 of 2

adjective

or·​tho·​dox ˈȯr-thə-ˌdäks 

1

a

: conforming to established doctrine especially in religion

orthodox principles

the orthodox interpretation

b

: conventional

took an orthodox approach to the problem

orthodox medicine

2

capitalized : of, relating to, or constituting any of various conservative religious or political groups: such as

a

: eastern orthodox

Greek Orthodox rituals

b

: of, relating to, or practicing Orthodox Judaism

The core market for these vinifera wines remains Orthodox Jews who require kosher foods for religious ceremonies.

—Thomas Matthews

orthodoxly adverb

orthodox

2 of 2

noun

plural orthodox also orthodoxes

1

: one that is orthodox

2

capitalized : a member of an Eastern Orthodox church

Did you know?

An orthodox religious belief or interpretation is one handed down by a church's founders or leaders. When capitalized, as in Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox refers to a branch within a larger religious organization that claims to honor the religion's original or traditional beliefs. The steadfast holding of established beliefs that is seen in religious orthodoxy is apparent also in other kinds of orthodox behavior. Orthodox medical treatment, for example, follows the established practices of mainstream medicine. Unorthodox thinking is known in business language as "thinking outside the box".

Synonyms

Adjective

• ceremonial
• ceremonious
• conventional
• formal
• regular
• routine

Examples of orthodox in a Sentence

Adjective

He took an orthodox approach to the problem.

She believes in the benefits of both orthodox medicine and alternative medicine.

He is a very orthodox Muslim.

I attend an Eastern Orthodox church.

My grandmother is Russian Orthodox.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But then, a chance encounter with an orthodox man on the Antwerp tram throws a wrench into her plans. —Leo Barraclough, Variety, 15 Jan. 2025

Around the same historical period, Israel instituted a divided education system based on nationality and religious observance, with four distinct school streams: Jewish secular, orthodox and ultra-orthodox schools taught primarily in Hebrew, and Arab schools taught in Arabic. —Ayala Hendin, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2025

Noun

No Name Restaurant, from directors Stefan Sarazin and Peter Keller, is a road comedy about an ultra orthodox Brooklyn Jew stranded in the Sinai desert whose only hope for survival is a grumpy Bedouin. —James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2023

Conventional orthodox Christians have to grapple with perplexing predictions in the Bible itself. —Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 22 May 2011

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English orthodoxe, from Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French orthodoxe, from Late Latin orthodoxus, from Late Greek orthodoxos, from Greek orth- + doxa opinion — more at doxology

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

orthodox

adjective

or·​tho·​dox

ˈȯr-thə-ˌdäks

1

: holding established beliefs especially in religion

an orthodox Christian

2

: approved as measuring up to some standard : usual, conventional

take an orthodox approach to a problem

3

capitalized

a

: eastern orthodox

b

: of or relating to Orthodox Judaism

orthodoxly adverb

Etymology

Adjective

from early French orthodoxe or Latin orthodoxus, both meaning "orthodox," from Greek orthodoxos (same meaning), from orthodoxein "to have the right or true opinion," derived from orthos "right, true" and doxa "opinion"

Word Origin

When someone has the same opinions and beliefs as those held by most other people, these opinions are usually considered the "right" opinions to have. In English such opinions might be called "orthodox." The English word orthodox comes originally from the Greek words orthos, meaning "right, true" and doxa, meaning "opinion." These two words were combined to form the Greek verb orthodoxein, meaning "to have the right opinion." From orthodoxein came the Greek adjective orthodoxos, which was borrowed into Latin as orthodoxus. The English adjective orthodox comes from this Latin adjective.