disbelief

American  

[dis-bi-leef] / ˌdɪs bɪˈlif /

noun

1. the inability or refusal to believe or to accept something as true.

2. amazement; astonishment.

   We stared at the Taj Mahal in disbelief.

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idioms

1. suspension of disbelief, the implicit convention requiring a reader, spectator, etc., to set aside their usual criteria for judging the reality or credibility of an experience in order to be be fully immersed in a fictional or fantastic reality: According to Coleridge, enlightened readers could still enjoy literature about the supernatural because of the phenomenon he named “willing suspension of disbelief.”

   The absurd plot in the last episode stretched our suspension of disbelief to the breaking point.

   According to Coleridge, enlightened readers could still enjoy literature about the supernatural because of the phenomenon he named “willing suspension of disbelief.”

disbelief British  

/ ˌdɪsbɪˈliːf /

noun

1. refusal or reluctance to believe

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Etymology

Origin of disbelief

First recorded in 1665–75; dis- ¹ + belief

Explanation

When you express disbelief, you make it clear that you don't believe something is real or true. Your reaction to your little brother's stories about fairies is likely to be disbelief. You'll probably encounter a lot of disbelief if you go around telling everyone you saw a UFO. You'll feel a sense of disbelief yourself if you learn you've won the lottery. In both cases, it just doesn't seem possible or real. The belief part of disbelief comes from the Old English word geleafa, "belief or faith," which evolved into bileave before becoming belief. The prefix dis- means "not" or "the opposite of."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

disbelief

Burnham expressed his disbelief that the fifth-largest economy in the world cannot "get our own people off the streets", writing in The Guardian: "I don't believe it for a minute".

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

“Hammerhead. Hammerhead. Hammerhead. Hammerhead,” Kohanchi said in disbelief, the video shows.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026

Peter Fleming, convinced this was just another of his son’s antics, chuckled in disbelief.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

Jimmy O'Keeffe - who took the footage - says he was "shocked and in total disbelief" as his picnic was disturbed.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

I’m about to remind her that we haven’t even seen a human here since we arrived last moon, but then Mother yips, her voice sliding into disbelief.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

Related Words

• distrust
• incredulity
• mistrust