Sinkretisimo (kwa Kiingereza Syncretism kutoka neno la Kilatini syncretismus lililotegemea lile la Kigiriki συγκρητισμός, synkretismos, yaani "shirikisho la Krete") ni tabia ya kuchanganya falsafa au dini tofauti. Katika mazingira ya Afrika kusini kwa Sahara, mara nyingi imani na desturi za dini za jadi zinajitokeza katika maisha ya Mkristo au Mwislamu, hata kinyume cha misingi au maadili ya dini hizo. Pengine sinkretisimo inafuatwa kwa makusudi mazima ili kurahisisha ushirikiano wa watu tofauti. The Oxford English Dictionary first attests the word syncretism in English in 1618. Erasmus probably coined the modern usage of the Latin word in his Adagia ("Adages"), published in the winter of 1517–1518, to designate the coherence of dissenters in spite of their differences in theological opinions. In a letter to Melanchthon of April 22, 1519, Erasmus specifically adduced the Cretans of Plutarch as an example of his adage "Concord is a mighty rampart". The Greek word occurs in Plutarch's (1st century AD) essay on "Fraternal Love" in his Moralia (2.490b). He cites the example of the Cretans, who compromised and reconciled their differences and came together in alliance when faced with external dangers.