Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (1)
1.
the branch of theology that defends God's goodness and justice in the face of the existence of evil;
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Theodicy \The*od"i*cy\, n. [NL. theodicaea, fr. Gr. ? God + ?
right, justice: cf. F. th['e]odic['e]e.]
1. A vindication of the justice of God in ordaining or
permitting natural and moral evil.
[1913 Webster]
2. That department of philosophy which treats of the being,
perfections, and government of God, and the immortality of
the soul. --Krauth-Fleming.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
theodicy
n 1: the branch of theology that defends God's goodness and
justice in the face of the existence of evil