What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hagiography
Example
The book is a hagiography of Mother Teresa, focusing on her good deeds and virtues. [hagiography: noun]
Example
The author's hagiographic portrayal of the politician was criticized for ignoring their flaws and shortcomings. [hagiographic: adjective]
hagiology
Example
The professor specializes in hagiology and teaches courses on the lives of saints. [hagiology: noun]
Example
Hagiology is an important aspect of many religious traditions, including Christianity and Islam. [hagiology: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Hagiography is more commonly used than hagiology in everyday language, although both words are relatively uncommon. Hagiography is often used in a negative sense to describe works that are overly idealistic or uncritical, while hagiology is more commonly used in academic or religious contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between hagiography and hagiology?
Both hagiography and hagiology are formal words that are primarily used in academic or religious contexts. However, hagiography may be viewed as less formal due to its association with popular literature and uncritical portrayals of saints.
