theologue: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very RareFormal, Archaic, Literary
Quick answer
What does “theologue” mean?
A person who studies or is an expert in theology.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who studies or is an expert in theology; a theologian.
Historically, a student of divinity or a person engaged in theological discourse or writing. The term can sometimes carry an archaic or slightly formal/old-fashioned nuance compared to 'theologian'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more likely to be encountered in British historical or academic texts, but this is a marginal distinction.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both corpora.
Grammar
How to Use “theologue” in a Sentence
the theologue of [school/denomination, e.g., the theologue of Aquinas]a theologue specialising in [field, e.g., patristics]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used rarely, primarily in historical or religious studies contexts to refer to past scholars.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
May appear in specialised theological or historical discourse as a stylistic variant of 'theologian'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “theologue”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “theologue”
- Using 'theologue' in contemporary contexts where 'theologian' is expected.
- Misspelling as 'theolog'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in meaning, but 'theologue' is an archaic and much rarer synonym. 'Theologian' is the standard modern term.
You can, but with caution. It is best used for stylistic effect, perhaps when discussing historical figures, to avoid an anachronistic feel. In most contemporary academic writing, 'theologian' is preferred.
It comes from Late Latin 'theologus', from Greek 'theologos' (from 'theos' meaning god + 'logos' meaning word, discourse).
No common verb or adjective is directly derived from 'theologue'. The related noun is 'theology', and the adjective is 'theological'.
A person who studies or is an expert in theology.
Theologue is usually formal, archaic, literary in register.
Theologue: in British English it is pronounced /ˈθiːəlɒɡ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈθiəˌlɔːɡ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'THEO' (God) + 'LOGUE' (speech/discourse) = a person who discourses about God.
Conceptual Metaphor
A THEOLOGUE IS A NAVIGATOR OF DIVINE MYSTERY.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'theologue' MOST appropriately used?