adj · noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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hûr′-mə-n(y)o͞o′-tĭk
Received-Pronunciation:/ˌhɜː.məˈn(j)uː.tɪk/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Canada, General-American:/ˌhɜɹ.məˈn(j)u.tɪk/
Australian:/ˌhɜː.məˈn(j)ʉː.tɪk/
New-Zealand:/ˌhøː.məˈn(j)ʉː.tək/
Scotland:/ˌhɛɹ.məˈn(j)ʉ.tɪk/
rhymes with -uːtɪk
1
adj
Meaning 1
Having to do with hermeneutics; that explains, interprets, illustrates or elucidates texts, especially holy texts.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Qualifier: humanities
Topics: lifestyle, religion, theology
Examples
Near-synonyms: exegetic, exegetical
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: hermeneutical, exegetic, exegetical
Antonyms: nonhermeneutic
2
noun
Meaning 2
A particular theory of hermeneutics; a particular method of interpretation of text, especially holy texts.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: humanities
Topics: lifestyle, religion, theology
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: exegesis
Antonyms: none provided
3
adjective
Meaning 3
interpretive or explanatory
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Derived from Ancient Greek ἑρμηνευτικός (hermēneutikós, “of or for interpreting”), from Ancient Greek ἑρμηνεύς (hermēneús, “interpreter”).
Across languages
Translations
24 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Aragonese:
hermeneutico
— that explains, interprets, illustrates or elucidates a text
Asturian:
hermenéuticu
— that explains, interprets, illustrates or elucidates a text
Bulgarian:
обяснителен
(objasnitelen)
— that explains, interprets, illustrates or elucidates a text
Bulgarian:
тълкувателен
(tǎlkuvatelen)
— that explains, interprets, illustrates or elucidates a text
Catalan:
hermenèutic
— that explains, interprets, illustrates or elucidates a text
Danish:
hermeneutisk
— that explains, interprets, illustrates or elucidates a text
Dutch:
hermeneutisch
— that explains, interprets, illustrates or elucidates a text
Esperanto:
hermeneŭtika
— that explains, interprets, illustrates or elucidates a text
Finnish:
hermeneuttinen
— that explains, interprets, illustrates or elucidates a text
French:
herméneutique
— that explains, interprets, illustrates or elucidates a text
Galician:
hermenéutico
— that explains, interprets, illustrates or elucidates a text
German:
hermeneutisch
— that explains, interprets, illustrates or elucidates a text
Italian:
ermeneutico
— that explains, interprets, illustrates or elucidates a text
Latin:
hermeneuticus
— that explains, interprets, illustrates or elucidates a text
Polish:
hermeneutyczny
— that explains, interprets, illustrates or elucidates a text
Portuguese:
hermenêutico
— that explains, interprets, illustrates or elucidates a text
Romanian:
hermeneutic
— that explains, interprets, illustrates or elucidates a text
Romanian:
ermeneutic
— that explains, interprets, illustrates or elucidates a text
Spanish:
hermenéutico
— that explains, interprets, illustrates or elucidates a text
Swedish:
hermeneutisk
— that explains, interprets, illustrates or elucidates a text
Catalan:
hermenèutica
— particular theory of hermeneutics
French:
herméneutique
— particular theory of hermeneutics
Portuguese:
hermenêutica
— particular theory of hermeneutics
Spanish:
hermenéutica
— particular theory of hermeneutics
