orthodox
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or conforming to the approved form of any doctrine, philosophy, ideology, etc.
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of, relating to, or conforming to beliefs, attitudes, or modes of conduct that are generally approved.
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customary or conventional, as a means or method; established.
- Synonyms:
- fixed, routine, commonplace, traditional
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sound or correct in opinion or doctrine, especially theological or religious doctrine.
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conforming to the Christian faith as represented in the creeds of the early church.
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Orthodox,
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of, relating to, or designating the Eastern Church, especially the Greek Orthodox Church.
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of, relating to, or characteristic of Orthodox Jews or Orthodox Judaism.
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adjective
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of or relating to the Orthodox Church of the East
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(sometimes not capital)
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of or relating to Orthodox Judaism
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(of an individual Jew) strict in the observance of Talmudic law and in personal devotions
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adjective
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conforming with established or accepted standards, as in religion, behaviour, or attitudes
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conforming to the Christian faith as established by the early Church
Other Word Forms
- antiorthodox adjective
- antiorthodoxly adverb
- hyperorthodox adjective
- nonorthodox adjective
- nonorthodoxly adverb
- orthodoxly adverb
- orthodoxness noun
- pro-orthodox adjective
- semiorthodox adjective
- semiorthodoxly adverb
- ultraorthodox adjective
- unorthodox adjective
Etymology
Origin of orthodox
First recorded in 1575–85; from Late Latin orthodoxus “right in religion,” from Late Greek orthódoxos, equivalent to ortho- ortho- + dóx(a) “belief, opinion” + -os adjective suffix
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“A sputtering 60/40 rebalancing engine may allow for a more orthodox context for bond / equity correlations, and higher diversification and hedging benefits of long duration positions in portfolios,” they say.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 9, 2026
Ver had initially gone the orthodox route of hiring tax attorneys from a prestigious law firm, Steptoe.
From Salon • Jan. 23, 2026
Rock-hewn orthodox churches in Ethiopia echo in sacred space.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026
But Benavidez began landing combinations to the head and body with the speed of a lightweight, switching between southpaw and orthodox at will.
From BBC • Nov. 22, 2025
Gilbert’s Copernicanism guaranteed a hostile response from orthodox Catholic scholars once Copernicanism had been condemned in 1616.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
