# pagan

/ˈpeɪɡən/ (US) · /pˈeɪɡən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pagan
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. follower of nature religions

noun · CEFR B2

a person who follows a religion that worships nature or many gods, especially one that existed before Christianity.

For teachers: an adherent of a polytheistic or pantheistic religion, typically one predating or distinct from the major monotheistic faiths.

- The ancient pagans celebrated the change of seasons with large outdoor festivals.
- Modern pagans often gather at historic sites like Stonehenge to observe the summer solstice and reconnect with ancestral traditions.

### 2. relating to non-mainstream religions

adjective · CEFR B2

relating to ancient or nature-based religious beliefs and customs.

For teachers: pertaining to the religious beliefs, rituals, or cultural practices of polytheistic or non-Abrahamic societies.

- The museum has a collection of pagan statues from the Roman era.
- The scholar argued that many local winter traditions actually have pagan origins that were later adapted by the church.

## Examples

- The ancient pagans celebrated the change of seasons.
- Modern pagans often gather at stone circles to mark the summer solstice with traditional rituals.
- The transition from pagan traditions to monotheism was a gradual process that saw many local customs integrated into the new religious framework.

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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.