# arian

/ˈæɹiən/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/arian
Updated: 2026-05-26

## Definition

a person who follows a specific set of beliefs about Jesus that were popular in the early church. These beliefs were later seen as different from the main Christian teachings.

For teachers: a follower of the theological doctrine of Arius, which holds that the Son of God is a created being and therefore subordinate to the Father. Historically significant in the context of the First Council of Nicaea.

## Examples

- The Arian movement caused a lot of debate in the early church.
- Scholars study the Arian controversy to understand how early Christian theology developed and eventually reached a consensus.
- The spread of Arianism across the Germanic tribes during the fifth century significantly influenced the religious landscape of the emerging medieval kingdoms in Western Europe.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.