gnosticism
|gno-sti-siz-um|
🇺🇸
/ˈnɑːstɪsɪzəm/
🇬🇧
/ˈnɒstɪsɪzəm/
esoteric knowledge
Etymology
'gnosticism' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'gnōsis', where the root 'gnō-' meant 'to know'.
'gnosticism' developed via Late Greek 'gnōstikos' (meaning 'knowing, pertaining to knowledge') and Late Latin 'gnosticus', later entering English as 'gnostic' and then 'gnosticism' to denote the related beliefs and movements.
Initially related to the general idea of 'knowledge', over time the term came to denote a specific set of religious doctrines emphasizing esoteric knowledge as the means of salvation and, by extension, any similar attitude privileging hidden knowledge.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a set of ancient religious ideas and systems, originating in the early Christian era, that taught salvation comes through esoteric spiritual knowledge (gnosis) and often involved a dualistic view of the material and spiritual worlds.
Scholars study gnosticism to understand the diversity of early Christian beliefs.
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Noun 2
the tendency or belief that secret, special, or esoteric knowledge is the key to spiritual truth or salvation; a disposition to value hidden knowledge over orthodox teaching or material reality.
Some commentators accuse contemporary movements of a kind of gnosticism when they privilege hidden knowledge over public accountability.
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Last updated: 2025/10/30 07:16