heterodox
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

heterodox

B2Upper-intermediateOctober 2, 20262 min
  • Language learning

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 2, 2026 is: heterodox \HET-uh-ruh-dahks\ adjective See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Sentence 4 of 12 · 0:21

Heterodox is an adjective.

, , ,

is contrary to or different from an acknowledged standard, a traditional form, or an established

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B2 · Upper-intermediate

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A1 27%A2 53%B1 7%B2 13%C1 0%
  • 87% of the words are B1 or easier.
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  • 13 harder words (B2 and up) in the whole episode.

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0:00

It's the Word of the Day podcast for October 2nd. Today's word is heterodox, spelled H-E-T-E-R-O-D-O-X. Heterodox is an adjective. Like both unorthodox and unconventional, heterodox describes something, such as an idea or belief,

0:28

is contrary to or different from an acknowledged standard, a traditional form, or an established religion. Heterodox can also describe a person or group that holds unorthodox opinions or doctrines. Here's the word used in a sentence from Psychology Today.

0:46

The result is what researchers call the spiral of silence, which describes the process by which dissenters go quiet, fearing social backlash. This in turn makes other dissenters feel even more alone, producing a false consensus that further suppresses dissent.

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