theology

C1 Topic:Religion & Belief

US /θiˈɒ.lə.d͡ʒi/ See IPA manual

Freq #21249

Meanings

1

noun
The study of God, religion, and religious beliefs.

They studied theology at Oxford.
2

noun
A particular system of religious beliefs and teachings.

The two churches differ greatly in their theology.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the study of god, religion,... divinity

2 noun · a particular system of... theological system

Word family

Forms theologies

Derived forms atheologyphysico-theologytheologiantheologictheologicaltheologicallytheologisetheologisttheologize

Related forms thealogianthealogytheologoumenontheurgy

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

liberation theology
a Christian approach to theology emphasizing social justice and freedom from oppression

Noun + noun

Simplified etymology

Theology, recorded in late Middle English, contains Greek theos, meaning “god.” This Greek word is unrelated to the Germanic source of English God.

Etymology

From Middle English theologie, from Middle French theologie, from Old French theologie, from Latin theologia, from Koine Greek θεολογία (theología), from θεολόγος (theológos, adjective), from θεός (theós) + λόγος (lógos). By surface analysis, theo- + -logy.

theologie Middle English theologia Latin θεολογία grc-koi

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Religion & Belief Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# theology

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /θiˈɒ.lə.d͡ʒi/
**Frequency rank:** 21249

## Meanings
1. The study of God, religion, and religious beliefs.
2. A particular system of religious beliefs and teachings.

## Examples
- They studied theology at Oxford.
- The two churches differ greatly in their theology.

## Derived Forms
- atheology
- physico-theology
- theologian
- theologic
- theological
- theologically
- theologise
- theologist
- theologize

## Related Forms
- thealogian
- thealogy
- theologoumenon
- theurgy

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: theologie
- Root: theologia
- Root: θεολογία

## Etymology
From Middle English theologie, from Middle French theologie, from Old French theologie, from Latin theologia, from Koine Greek θεολογία (theología), from θεολόγος (theológos, adjective), from θεός (theós) + λόγος (lógos). By surface analysis, theo- + -logy.

## AI Etymology
Theology comes from Middle English theologie, from Middle French theologie, from Old French theologie, from Latin theologia, from Koine Greek θεολογία (theología), from θεολόγος (theológos, adjective), from θεός (theós) + λόγος (lógos). By surface analysis, theo- + -logy. The historical chain includes theologie (Middle English), theologie (Middle French), theologie (Old French), theologia (Latin), and θεολογία (grc-koi). The surrounding word family includes derived forms such as atheology, physico-theology, theologian, and theologic and related forms such as thealogian, thealogy, and theologoumenon. In present use it covers the study of God, religion, and religious beliefs and a particular system of religious beliefs and teachings.

## Topics
- Religion & Belief
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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