ortodox

Ortodox is an adjective used in several languages to describe adherence to established beliefs, doctrines, or practices. It derives from the Greek orthos, meaning straight or correct, and doxa, belief or opinion. The term appears in both religious and secular contexts and is often contrasted with unorthodox or heterodox ideas. In some languages, such as Romanian (ortodox) and Turkish (ortodoks), the word is commonly used to refer to Orthodox Christianity or to orthodox approaches more broadly.

In religion, orthodoxy denotes a claim to preserve the original faith and practice of a tradition. In Christianity, Eastern Orthodox churches form a family of autocephalous communities sharing theology, liturgy, and sacraments while maintaining distinct hierarchies. They are typically distinguished from Roman Catholicism and from Protestant denominations and are separate from Oriental Orthodox churches, which represent a different branch of early Christian tradition. The term also appears in other faiths, such as Orthodox Judaism, which denotes mainstream Rabbinic Judaism that adheres to traditional law and interpretation.

Beyond religious usage, orthodox can describe conventional or widely accepted approaches within a field. For example, orthodox economics refers to mainstream theories and methods, while orthodox medicine indicates standard, evidence-based practices. The term often signals conformity to the prevailing consensus rather than specific doctrinal affiliation.

See also: orthodoxy; heresy.