orthodox

adjective or·tho·dox \ ˈȯr-thə-ˌdäks \

|Updated on: 30 Jun 2018

Examples: orthodox in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of orthodox

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 or relating to Orthodox Judaism

Orthodox Jews in their black suits and hats and modest dresses

—

orthodoxly

adverb

See orthodox defined for English-language learners

See orthodox defined for kids

Examples of orthodox in a Sentence

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 of orthodox from the Web

That is a powerful headwind even for countries with more orthodox policies and more cautious central banks.

— richard barley, WSJ, "Erdogan’s Victory in Turkey Creates Clarity but Not Confidence," 25 June 2018
Director Ari Aster doesn’t use orthodox jump scares the way another recent domestic horror movie, A Quiet Place, did.

— allison p. davis, The Cut, "Is Hereditary Really As Scary As Everyone Says?," 11 June 2018
Elias Loewy moved his family of five to Arizona in 1948 and became one of the founders of Phoenix's first orthodox congregation.

— jessica boehm, azcentral, "Effort to save Phoenix's first Orthodox Jewish synagogue reveals forgotten history," 23 Mar. 2018
The modern orthodox Jewish congregation plans to hold a farewell ceremony on Sunday for the synagogue, which was inundated with 7 feet of water during Hurricane Harvey.

— paul takahashi, Houston Chronicle, "Flood-ravaged synagogue in Meyerland to be demolished," 30 Jan. 2018
Instead, the new divide was within religious groups, with orthodox believers within Protestantism, Catholicism, and Judaism on one side and their progressive wings and secularists on the other.

— jason willick, WSJ, "The Man Who Discovered ‘Culture Wars’," 25 May 2018
Indeed, the approach to monetary policy in emerging markets is, bar a few renegades, rigidly orthodox.

— The Economist, "How Turkey fell from investment darling to junk-rated emerging market," 19 May 2018
The ninth inning will not be orthodox now that the Phillies do not have a defined closer.

— matt breen, Philly.com, "Phillies finally have tough decisions with starting rotation | Extra Innings," 17 May 2018
Wuorinen, who marks his 80th birthday later this year, was once the orchestra’s composer-in-residence, at a time when his commitment to the principles of serialism was more orthodox and pronounced.

— joshua kosman, San Francisco Chronicle, "Copland’s generous patriotism gets boost from SF Symphony," 16 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'orthodox.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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".

Origin and Etymology of orthodox

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

orthodox Synonyms

Other Jewish Religion Terms

Talmud, Zion, challah, dybbuk, kosher, tabernacle, tetragrammaton, yarmulke

orthodox

noun

Definition of orthodox

plural orthodox also orthodoxes

1 : one that is orthodox

2 capitalized : a member of an Eastern Orthodox church

Recent Examples of orthodox from the Web

The once ultra-orthodox are loosening their ideologies, facilitated by Facebook groups, podcasts, websites, and meet-ups.

— sarah scoles, Longreads, "Meet the New Mormons," 8 June 2018
The fascinating modern historic events there now were instigated by an unorthodox president who may be about to accomplish what orthodox leaders never could.

— andrew malcolm, San Francisco Chronicle, "Trump’s Korea initiative is risky and unprecedented," 2 May 2018
The closest synagogue at the time was a conservative synagogue on Third Avenue and McDowell Road, a long walk for orthodox worshipers who did not drive on the Sabbath.

— jessica boehm, azcentral, "Founding family of Phoenix synagogue saved 1,500 people during the Holocaust," 12 Apr. 2018
Santos is likely to continue Uribe's crackdown on crime and on the FARC insurgency as well as his orthodox financial policies.

— Newsweek, "Amazing Photos of Bioluminescent Phytoplankton," 14 Mar. 2018
Generally speaking, the Jewish community can be divided up into three types of affiliation-orthodox, conservative and reform.

— patricia dillon, Houston Chronicle, "Villager Q & A: Rabbi Mendel Blecher of Chabad of The Woodlands," 23 Feb. 2018
The event, hosted by Shabbat San Diego, calls on Jewish San Diegans, whether orthodox, reform or secular, to observe a Shabbat, or Jewish Sabbath, as a sign of unity with Jews around the world.

— kate morrissey, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Thousands of San Diegans to make bread, observe traditional Shabbat in international celebration," 23 Oct. 2017

Origin and Etymology of orthodox

see ¹orthodox

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1587

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary

ORTHODOX Defined for English Language Learners

orthodox

adjective

Definition of orthodox for English Language Learners

: accepted as true or correct by most people : supporting or believing what most people think is true
: accepting and closely following the traditional beliefs and customs of a religion
Orthodox : of or relating to the Orthodox Church