What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Polytheism vs Animism - What's the difference?

polytheism | animism |

As nouns the difference between polytheism and animism

is that polytheism is the belief of the existence of many gods while animism is a belief that spirits inhabit some or all classes of natural objects or phenomena.

polytheism

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • The belief of the existence of many gods.

    • Derived terms

    * polytheist * polytheists * polytheistic * polytheistical * polytheistically * polydeism

    See also

    * atheism * henotheism * kathenotheism * monotheism * pantheon English words suffixed with -ism

    animism

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A belief that spirits inhabit some or all classes of natural objects or phenomena.
  • A belief that an immaterial force animates the universe.
  • (dated) A doctrine that animal life is produced by an immaterial spirit.

    • See also

    * ("animism" on Wikipedia)