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orthodox
Strictly adhering to the original, traditional doctrine of a religion or worldview.
example
Er wuchs in einer streng orthodox-jüdischen Familie auf.
He grew up in a strictly Orthodox Jewish family.
orthodox
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word structure
The word comes from Greek: 'orthos' means 'correct' and 'doxa' means 'opinion' or 'belief'. So 'orthodox' literally describes a person or doctrine that follows the 'right belief'.
EXAMPLE
Er hält an seinen orthodoxen Ansichten fest und ist kaum von neuen Ideen zu überzeugen.
He holds on to his orthodox views and is hardly open to new ideas.
Religious context
'Orthodox' is most commonly used in a religious context. Typical combinations are the 'orthodoxe Kirche' (Orthodox Church), e.g. 'griechisch-orthodox' (Greek Orthodox), 'russisch-orthodox' (Russian Orthodox), or 'das orthodoxe Judentum' (Orthodox Judaism).
EXAMPLE
Die Ikonen spielen in der orthodoxen Kirche eine wichtige Rolle.
Icons play an important role in the Orthodox Church.
Figurative meaning
Outside religion, 'orthodox' describes methods or views that hold very rigidly to traditions. It often has a slightly critical connotation and suggests a lack of flexibility.
EXAMPLE
Seine orthodoxen Lehrmethoden gelten heute als veraltet.
His orthodox teaching methods are considered outdated today.
Compare with
orthodox vs katholisch
Catholic
'katholisch' and 'orthodox' can both appear in religious contexts, so they can easily be confused. However, 'katholisch' specifically refers to the Roman Catholic Church. 'orthodox' means that a person or group strictly adheres to a traditional doctrine. This can be meant religiously, but also figuratively for very traditional opinions or methods. If it is about belonging to the Catholic Church, 'katholisch' fits. If it is about strict loyalty to old rules or teachings, 'orthodox' fits.
orthodox
Seine Familie lebt sehr orthodox und hält sich genau an die alten religiösen Regeln.
His family lives in a very orthodox way and follows the old religious rules exactly.
katholisch
Meine Großmutter ist katholisch und geht sonntags oft in die Kirche.
My grandmother is Catholic and often goes to church on Sundays.
In real life
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