heresiarch

noun

he·​re·​si·​arch hə-ˈrē-zē-ˌärk  ˈher-ə-sē- 

: an originator or chief advocate of a heresy

Synonyms

• dissenter
• dissentient
• dissident
• heretic
• nonconformist

Examples of heresiarch in a Sentence

his about-face on welfare reform has led him to be seen as a heresiarch among his party's faithful

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin haeresiarchēs, haeresiarcha, borrowed from Greek hairesiárchēs, "leader of a school or sect," from haíresis "system of principles, sect, faction" + -archēs -arch entry 1 — more at heresy

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined above