pagan

1. not comparableRelating to, characteristic of religions that differ from main world religions.

   Under Christianization, many converted societies transformed their pagan deities into saints.

   2 more examples

   Black metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that typically takes on anti-Christian, satanic and pagan themes.

   2019 April 12, Paul P. Murphy, Samira Said, “Louisiana arson suspect expressed disgust with Baptist churches on Facebook”, in CNN, archived from the original on 02 Nov 2021

   The way Green practices witchcraft defies stereotypes of broomstick-wielding, cauldron-toting, pointy-hatted witches. He doesn’t belong to a coven. He’s not Wiccan or pagan, religions that are rooted in witchcraft. He has a few cats, though they’re better suited for snuggling than serving as helpful familiars.

   2024 October 26, Scottie Andrew, “Witches walk among us — but they’re not like the fictional ones you grew up with”, in CNN, archived from the original on 06 Jul 2025

   Synonyms: heathen, heathenish, heathenly, heathenous · Antonyms: Christian, Muslim, Jewish

2. broadlyderogatorynot comparableSavage, immoral, uncivilized, wild.

   Synonyms: barbarian, barbaric, heathen, wolfish, animalistic, barbarian, barbaric, barbarious

plural pagans

1. A person not adhering to a main world religion; a follower of a pantheistic or nature-worshipping religion.

   This community has a surprising number of pagans.

2. broadlyderogatoryAn uncivilized or unsocialized person.

   Synonyms: paynim

3. broadlyderogatoryAn unruly, badly educated child.

   Synonyms: brat

4. An outlaw biker who is a member of the Pagans MC.
5. Multicultural London EnglishalternativeAlternative form of paigon

plural Pagans

1. A male given name from Latin.
2. uncommonA female given name.

   'I've always believed that one of the reasons she never named Pagan's father was to spare her a similar pain.' 'You don't know who he is?' 'No. And, at the risk of sounding like Candida, I'd give anything to find out.'

   2011 April 19, Michael Arditti, Pagan and Her Parents, Arcadia Books, →ISBN

   1 more example

   In 2012, author Pagan Kennedy was hired by The New York Times magazine to write a column titled “Who Made That?” She began to hunt the people down behind inventions like sliced bread, the 3-D printer, and lipstick.

   (Can we date this quote?), QuickRead, Lea Schullery, Inventology by Pagan Kennedy (Summary), QuickRead.com

3. A surname.

   Mrs Pagan was delivered of a posthumous child, and thereafter along with the infant (a girl), she brought a process of aliment against John Pagan, who was a hosier in Dumfries, and alleged to be wealthy,[…]

   1838, Scotland. Court of Session, Cases Decided in the Court of Session, Teind Court, Court of Exchequer and House of Lords, page 399

1. datedThe city of Bagan, Myanmar.
2. historicalThe 9th- to 13th-century Burmese kingdom which had its capital at this city.