English Reference
noun

divinity

n.
US /dɪˈvɪnəti/ UK /dɪvˈɪnɪti/ di·vin·i·ty UK spelling divinities, divinity's

  1. 01 C1 Advanced Formal Religion

    the state or quality of being a god.

    the state, position, or quality of being divine or a god.

    Simple

    Many ancient kings claimed divinity to make their people obey them.

    In context

    The pharaohs of ancient Egypt were often regarded as living embodiments of divinity, bridging the gap between the mortal and the eternal.

    godlinessholiness
  2. 02 C1 Advanced Formal Religion

    a god or a divine being.

    a specific deity or celestial being.

    Simple

    The Greeks worshipped a divinity for almost every part of nature.

    In context

    The temple was dedicated to a minor divinity associated with the protection of travellers and merchants.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced AcademicFormal Religion

    the study of religion and religious ideas.

    the academic study of religion or theology.

    Simple

    He decided to go to university to study divinity and become a priest.

    In context

    After completing his master's degree in divinity, he spent several years working in rural parishes before returning to academia.

    Usage

    Often used in the names of university degrees, such as a Master of Divinity.

    theologyreligious studies
  4. 04 C2 Proficiency American English Cooking

    a soft, white sweet made from sugar, corn syrup, and egg whites.

    a type of fudge-like confectionery made from egg whites, sugar, and corn syrup, often containing chopped nuts.

    Simple

    My grandmother always made a batch of divinity for the holidays.

    In context

    The texture of the divinity was perfect—light, airy, and not too sticky, just as the traditional recipe intended.

    Usage

    Usually uncountable when referring to the substance, but countable when referring to individual pieces.

    fudgenougat

From Old French divinité, from Latin divinitas. Composed of divine + -ity. Displaced native Old English godcundnes.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated