Zoroastrianism

[ zawr-oh-as-tree-uh-niz-uh m, zohr- ]
/ ˌzɔr oʊˈæs tri əˌnɪz əm, ˌzoʊr- /

noun

an Iranian religion, founded c600 b.c. by Zoroaster, the principal beliefs of which are in the existence of a supreme deity, Ahura Mazda, and in a cosmic struggle between a spirit of good, Spenta Mainyu, and a spirit of evil, Angra Mainyu.
Sometimes Zo·ro·as·trism [zawr-oh-as-triz-uh m, zohr-] /ˌzɔr oʊˈæs trɪz əm, ˌzoʊr-/.
Also called Mazdaism.

Origin of Zoroastrianism

First recorded in 1850–55; Zoroastrian + -ism

Example sentences from the Web for zoroastrianism

British Dictionary definitions for zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrism

/ (ˌzɒrəʊˈæstrɪənˌɪzəm) /

noun

the dualistic religion founded by the Persian prophet Zoroaster in the late 7th or early 6th centuries bc and set forth in the sacred writings of the Zend-Avesta. It is based on the concept of a continuous struggle between Ormazd (or Ahura Mazda), the god of creation, light, and goodness, and his arch enemy, Ahriman, the spirit of evil and darkness, and it includes a highly developed ethical code Also called: Mazdaism