theology

noun

the·​ol·​o·​gy thē-ˈä-lə-jē 

plural theologies

1

: the study of religious faith, practice, and experience

especially : the study of God and of God's relation to the world

2

a

: a theological theory or system

Thomist theology

a theology of atonement

b

: a distinctive body of theological opinion

Catholic theology

3

: a usually 4-year course of specialized religious training in a Roman Catholic major seminary

Examples of theology in a Sentence

He has an interest in theology and pastoral work.

The bishop was opposed to the group's theology.

Recent Examples on the Web

Du Châtelet was searching for a grand synthesis of Newtonian, Cartesian, and Leibnizian ideas, in the way that Viennese visionaries of the nineteen-twenties hoped to unify all the sciences, and in the way that later thinkers tried to reconcile quantum physics with Einstein—and both with theology. —Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024

For example, Jack Lillie, a musician, deferred to his ambitious wife, R. S., a gifted medium who traveled the American west lecturing about Spiritualist theology. —Marissa C. Rhodes / Made By History, TIME, 8 Oct. 2024

Toward the end, the speakers fielded weighty questions from the audience that intertwined morality, theology and politics. —Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 22 Sep. 2024

To say more would spoil the film, but suffice it to say that never has pondering theology been so devilishly entertaining — and amen to that. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 10 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English theologie, from Anglo-French, from Latin theologia, from Greek, from the- + -logia -logy

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing theology

• dogmatic theology
• liberation theology
• natural theology
• practical theology
• systematic theology

Kids Definition

theology

noun

the·​ol·​o·​gy thē-ˈäl-ə-jē 

plural theologies

1

: the study of religion

2

: a set of religious beliefs

theologian

ˌthē-ə-ˈlō-jən

noun

theological

-ˈläj-i-kəl

adjective