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Heathen vs Gentile - What's the difference?

heathen | gentile |

As adjectives the difference between heathen and gentile

is that heathen is not adhering to an Abrahamic religion; pagan while gentile is non-Jewish.

As nouns the difference between heathen and gentile

is that heathen is a person who does not follow an Abrahamic religion; a pagan while gentile is a non-Jewish person.

heathen

English

Adjective

(-)
  • Not adhering to an Abrahamic religion; pagan.
  • (by extension) Uncultured; uncivilized; savage, philistine.
  • (pertaining or adhering to the Germanic neo-pagan faith Heathenry).

    • Noun

    (s)
  • A person who does not follow an Abrahamic religion; a pagan.
  • * V. Knox
    • If it is no more than a moral discourse, he may preach it and they may hear it, and yet both continue unconverted heathens .
  • (by extension) An uncultured or uncivilized person, philistine.
  • (an adherent of the Germanic neo-pagan faith of Heathenry).

    • Coordinate terms

    *

    Derived terms

    * heathendom * heathenish * heathenism * heathenize * heathenness

    gentile

    English

    Alternative forms

    * Gentile

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Non-Jewish.
  • Heathen, pagan.
  • Tribal, national.
  • Of or pertaining to gens or gentes.

    • Related terms

    * genteel

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A non-Jewish person.