marranism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowAcademic/Historical
Quick answer
What does “marranism” mean?
The practice of outwardly converting to Christianity while secretly adhering to Judaism, historically among Spanish and Portuguese Jews during the Inquisition.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The practice of outwardly converting to Christianity while secretly adhering to Judaism, historically among Spanish and Portuguese Jews during the Inquisition.
Any practice of feigning conversion or compliance with a dominant belief system while maintaining one's original faith or convictions in secret; more broadly, religious or ideological hypocrisy under coercion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is equally rare and academic in both varieties.
Connotations
Historical, scholarly, with associations to religious persecution and crypto-Judaism.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general usage; appears almost exclusively in historical, theological, or sociological texts.
Grammar
How to Use “marranism” in a Sentence
The + [noun] + of marranismMarranism + [prepositional phrase: in 15th-century Spain]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “marranism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The community was forced to marranise to survive the persecution.
- They marranised for generations before emigrating.
American English
- Families were compelled to marranize under threat of expulsion.
- He researched how his ancestors had marranized in Portugal.
adverb
British English
- They worshipped marranically, in hidden cellars at night.
- The faith was preserved marranically across generations.
American English
- They lived marranically, publicly attending Mass while privately observing Jewish laws.
- Traditions were passed down marranically through coded practices.
adjective
British English
- The marranic practices were carefully documented by the Inquisition.
- They maintained a marranic existence for over a century.
American English
- Marranic communities developed unique syncretic traditions.
- Evidence of marranic rituals was found in family archives.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, religious studies, and sociological texts discussing forced conversions and religious identity under persecution.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Specific term in historical Judaic studies and Inquisition history.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “marranism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “marranism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “marranism”
- Using it to describe any religious hypocrisy (too broad); misspelling as 'marinism' or 'marronism'; using it in modern political contexts without clear historical analogy.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The term originates from the Spanish 'marrano' (likely meaning 'swine'), used derogatorily. In modern academic use, it is a neutral historical term, though sensitivity is advised regarding its origins.
By strict definition, no—it is historically specific. However, scholars sometimes use it analogously for other groups forced to hide their beliefs (e.g., 'cultural marranism'), but this is an extended, metaphorical usage.
A 'converso' refers broadly to a Jewish convert to Christianity in Spain/Portugal. 'Marrano' was a derogatory term for those suspected of being insincere converts, secretly practising Judaism—hence associated with 'marranism'.
Extremely rarely. It is almost exclusively found in academic writing about religious history, the Inquisition, or Sephardic Jewish studies.
The practice of outwardly converting to Christianity while secretly adhering to Judaism, historically among Spanish and Portuguese Jews during the Inquisition.
Marranism is usually academic/historical in register.
Marranism: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmærənɪz(ə)m/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɛrəˌnɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None commonly associated”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MARrano hid his true faIth like a MARathon runner hides fatigue.'
Conceptual Metaphor
RELIGIOUS FAITH IS A HIDDEN TREASURE; PERSECUTION IS A MASK.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary context for the term 'marranism'?