# deity

/ˈdiəti/ (US) · /dˈeɪətˌi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/deity
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a god or goddess

noun · CEFR B2

a god or goddess that people worship in a religion.

For teachers: a supernatural being worshipped as having power over nature or human fortunes; a god or goddess.

- In ancient Greek stories, Zeus was the most powerful deity.
- The temple was dedicated to a local deity who was believed to protect the village from seasonal floods and poor harvests.

### 2. divine status

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the state of being a god.

For teachers: the state, position, or nature of being divine. Often uncountable in this abstract sense.

- The king claimed deity, telling his people he was born from the sun.
- Theologians debated the nature of the emperor's deity, questioning whether he was truly divine or merely a divinely appointed ruler.

## Examples

- Many ancient cultures believed in many deities.
- The temple was built to honor the local deities of the sea and harvest.
- In polytheistic traditions, each deity often presides over a specific domain of nature or human experience, such as war, wisdom, or fertility.

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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.