English▸ noun (especially in historical contexts) a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main or recognized religions:
the incoming Germanic peoples were pagans.
▪ dated, derogatory a non-Christian.
▪ a member of a modern religious movement that seeks to incorporate beliefs or practices from outside the main world religions, especially nature worship; an adherent of neopaganism.
▸ adjective (especially in historical contexts) holding or constituting religious beliefs other than those of the main or recognized religions:
a pagan god
ancient pagan rituals associated with spring.
▪ relating or adhering to a modern religious movement that seeks to incorporate beliefs or practices from outside the main world religions, especially nature worship; neopagan:
the winter solstice is a major pagan festival
a pagan faith group.
– ORIGIN late Middle English: from Latin paganus ‘villager, rustic’, from pagus ‘country district’. Latin paganus also meant ‘civilian’, becoming, in Christian Latin, ‘heathen’ (i.e. one not enrolled in the army of Christ).