heretic Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a person who holds religious beliefs in conflict with the dogma of the Roman Catholic Church
    misbeliever; religious outcast.
  2. noun a person who holds unorthodox opinions in any field (not merely religion)

WordNet

Her"e*tic noun
Etymology
L. haereticus, Gr. able to choose, heretical, fr. to take, choose: cf. F. hérétique. See Heresy.
Definitions
  1. One who holds to a heresy; one who believes some doctrine contrary to the established faith or prevailing religion.
    A man that is an heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject. Titus iii. 10.
  2. (R. C. Ch.) One who having made a profession of Christian belief, deliberately and pertinaciously refuses to believe one or more of the articles of faith "determined by the authority of the universal church." Addis & Arnold. Syn. -- Heretic, Schismatic, Sectarian. A heretic is one whose errors are doctrinal, and usually of a malignant character, tending to subvert the true faith. A schismatic is one who creates a schism, or division in the church, on points of faith, discipline, practice, etc., usually for the sake of personal aggrandizement. A sectarian is one who originates or is an ardent adherent and advocate of a sect, or distinct organization, which separates from the main body of believers.

Webster 1913