Syncretic
[sin-KRET-ik]
Part of speech: adjective
Origin: Greek, 19th century
1.
Combining disparate elements in one system, especially as in forms of religious observance, philosophical systems, or artistic creations.
Examples of Syncretic in a sentence
"Mark’s mother is Jewish and his father is Episcopalian, so they celebrate a syncretic Christmas-Hanukkah in December."
"The Civic Pride Association was a syncretic collection of groups who sometimes opposed one another, united by their love of the city."
About Syncretic
“Syncretic” is based on the 17th-century English word “syncretism,” itself based on the Greek “synkretizein,” meaning both “concretize” and “unite against a common enemy.”
Did you Know?
Some of the oldest organized religions merged several strands of belief into a unified syncretic faith, but more visible in the modern world are syncretic political organizations, which attempt to unite the interests of different political leanings into a single movement. In many countries, long-standing political parties have adopted syncretic platforms that include some of their opponents’ policies. In the U.S., the U.K., and Canada, the “Third Way” is a syncretic blend of economic approaches favored by conservatives paired with progressive platforms on social issues.
