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
orthodox
In a figurative sense: rigidly holding on to traditional rules, opinions, or methods; conventional.
EXAMPLE
Seine Lehrmethoden sind vielen Kollegen zu orthodox und veraltet.
Many colleagues find his teaching methods too orthodox and outdated.
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His orthodox teaching methods are considered outdated today.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 konservativ
conservative
Both words can express an orientation toward traditional rules or ideas. „Konservativ“ generally refers to preserving the status quo, while „orthodox“ emphasizes a particularly strict adherence to traditional rules or methods. Use „konservativ“ for a cautious attitude and „orthodox“ when there is strict adherence to rules.
orthodox
Die Gemeinde ist orthodox und hält sich streng an die überlieferte Lehre.
The community is orthodox and adheres strictly to the traditional doctrine.
konservativ
Die Gemeinde ist konservativ und möchte viele ihrer alten Traditionen bewahren.
The community is conservative and wants to preserve many of its old traditions.
In real life
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