online medical dictionary | definition of heretic

1. One who holds to a heresy; one who believes some doctrine contrary to the established faith or prevailing religion. "A man that is an heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject." (Titus III. 10)

2. One who having made a profession of Christian belief, deliberately and pertinaciously refuses to believe one or more of the articles of faith "determined by the authority of the universal church."

Synonyms: Heretic, Schismatic, Sectarian.

A heretic is one whose errors are doctrinal, and usually of a malignant character, tending to subvert the true faith. A schismatic is one who creates a schism, or division in the church, on points of faith, discipline, practice, etc, usually for the sake of personal aggrandizement. A sectarian is one who originates or is an ardent adherent and advocate of a sect, or distinct organization, which separates from the main body of believers.

Origin: L. Haereticus, Gr. Able to choose, heretical, fr. To take, choose: cf. F. Heretique. See Heresy.

(01 Mar 1998)