hersey: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, historical, religious, academic
Quick answer
What does “hersey” mean?
Doctrinal belief or opinion that contradicts established religious teaching, particularly within a Christian context.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Doctrinal belief or opinion that contradicts established religious teaching, particularly within a Christian context.
Any opinion or belief profoundly at odds with established doctrine, authority, or conventional wisdom, often used metaphorically in secular contexts to denote radical dissent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Slightly more common in British historical and literary contexts due to England's long history of religious conflict.
Connotations
Both varieties carry heavy historical and doctrinal weight. In secular use, it implies a seriousness and gravity beyond mere disagreement.
Frequency
Rare in everyday speech in both varieties, but appears in historical, theological, and legal texts.
Grammar
How to Use “hersey” in a Sentence
accuse someone of heresycondemn something as heresyfall into heresybe charged with heresyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hersey” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The Bishop's teachings were declared a heresy by the Synod.
- To suggest the monarchy is obsolete was once considered political heresy.
American English
- The scholar was tried for heresy in the 17th century.
- In some circles, advocating for higher taxes is economic heresy.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Almost never used. If used metaphorically, e.g., 'Suggesting we abandon quarterly reports is financial heresy.'
Academic
Common in history, theology, philosophy, and literature departments to describe doctrinal deviation.
Everyday
Very rare. Might be used for dramatic effect to describe a strongly unconventional opinion, e.g., 'Saying you don't like tea is practically heresy in this house!'
Technical
Specific term in ecclesiastical law and historical studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hersey”
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hersey”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hersey”
- Mispronouncing it as /hɪˈriː.si/ or /ˈheər.ə.si/.
- Using it to mean a simple mistake or faux pas; it implies a serious challenge to core principles.
- Confusing with 'harassy' (a misspelling of 'harass').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Heresy is incorrect belief or doctrine. Blasphemy is speech or action that shows disrespect or contempt for God or sacred things. One can commit blasphemy without heresy (e.g., cursing), and heresy without blasphemy (e.g., holding a quiet, incorrect theological belief).
Yes, but it's metaphorical and formal. It describes an opinion or theory that radically contradicts the accepted principles of a particular field (e.g., 'Keynesian economics was once viewed as heresy').
Historically, a religious authority with the power to define orthodox doctrine, such as a church council, pope, or state church. In metaphorical use, the 'establishment' or consensus within a field.
The most common adjective is 'heretical' (e.g., a heretical idea).
Doctrinal belief or opinion that contradicts established religious teaching, particularly within a Christian context.
Hersey is usually formal, historical, religious, academic in register.
Hersey: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɜː.si/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɜr.si/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a heresy of thought”
- “to be branded a heresy”
- “the heresy of (doing something)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HEResy - think of a HERetic, a person who stubbornly holds a belief that goes against the group's established doctrine.
Conceptual Metaphor
HERESY IS A DISEASE / POISON (spreads, infects, must be purged); HERESY IS A CRIME (charged with, tried for, condemned for).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest synonym for 'heresy' in a theological context?