Pagan has 8 different meanings across 3 categories:
Noun · Adjective · Proper Noun
a person who follows a polytheistic or pre-Christian religion (not a Christian or Muslim or Jew)
"The historian described the early Germanic tribes as pagan societies before they adopted Christianity."
someone motivated by desires for sensual pleasures
"The hedonistic pagan sought to satisfy every carnal desire before the dawn broke."
A person not adhering to a main world religion; a follower of a pantheistic or nature-worshipping religion.
"The ancient historian described the local tribes as pagans because they worshiped the spirits of trees and rivers rather than any single god."
In plain English: A pagan is someone who worships nature or multiple gods instead of just one main deity found in major world religions.
"Many people in ancient Rome were pagans before Christianity spread across Europe."
not acknowledging the God of Christianity and Judaism and Islam
"The missionaries were shocked to find that many local villagers remained pagan, continuing their traditional rituals without any knowledge of the Christian God."
Relating to, characteristic of religions that differ from main world religions.
"The explorer was fascinated by the ancient pagan rituals he discovered in the remote valley."
In plain English: Pagan describes someone who follows an ancient religion that worships nature and many gods instead of just one god.
"The ancient festival included rituals that felt very pagan to modern Christians."
Usage: Use "pagan" as an adjective specifically when describing beliefs or practices associated with ancient polytheism or nature worship rather than mainstream monotheistic faiths. Avoid using it loosely for any non-religious person; instead, reserve the noun form strictly for individuals adhering to these specific traditional belief systems.
A male given name from Latin.
"The ancient city of Bagan in Myanmar is often referred to as a pagan site due to its thousands of Buddhist and Hindu temples."
The city of Bagan, Myanmar.
The word "pagan" comes from Latin pāgānus, which originally meant rural or civilian but evolved in Vulgar Latin to describe those who were not Christian because they lived outside the cities where Christianity spread first. Although it replaced an earlier Old English term meaning heathen, modern neopagans have adopted the word as a self-designation since 1990.