Аннотация:In this article the author attempts to revise the role of the term 'Protestantism' as a category of analysis. He demonstrates its logical inconsistency within the traditional generic classification framework, as well as its tendency to be analytically unproductive when applied to the studies of historical sources on the English Reformation. First, the term 'Protestantism' and its role as a category of analysis is examined. The author concludes, that, while being convenient as a category of practice, it proves to be inadequate in analytical terms. Second, the term is examined in the contexts of historical sources related to the history of the English Reformation. This examination pictures a gradual multiplication of succeeding meanings, with some of them becoming more widespread than others at certain periods of time. It also shows a connection between the language of religion, on the one hand, and political sentiments, especially those related to the Crown, on the other. The author concludes, that the traditional indiscriminate application of the term 'Protestantism' to the history of the reformed Church of England leads to misreading of sources (and, consequently, to the fallacy of equivocation: when, for instance, 'protestant' and 'reformed' are used interchangeably), one-sided interpretations, and the narrowing of a possible scope of research.