heresy

3 definitions • 4 examples

(the act of having) an opinion or belief that is the opposite of or against what is the official or popular opinion, or an action that shows that you have no respect for the official opinion:

Radical remarks like this amount to heresy for most members of the Republican party.

She committed the heresy of playing a Lady Gaga song on a classical music station.

a belief that is against the principles of a particular religion:

He was burned at the stake for heresy in the 15th century.

a belief opposed to the official belief of a church and that is considered wrong, or the condition of having such beliefs:

[ U ] fig. The concept of college athletes being paid to play sports was received as nothing short of heresy (= unusual opinions considered completely wrong).