atheism
Americannoun
-
disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or a supreme being or beings.
-
the philosophical position stating that there is no supreme being or beings.
noun
Usage
What does atheism mean? Atheism is the belief that there is no supreme being or deity. In other words, atheism is the denial of the existence of God or of any gods.A person who holds such a belief can be called an atheist. The word atheist can also be used as an adjective to describe such beliefs or things involving such beliefs. The adjective atheistic can be used in the same way.The word atheism means something different from agnosticism, which is the belief that it is impossible to know whether or not a supreme being exists. When asked if God or gods exist, an atheist would answer “No,” while an agnostic would answer “It is impossible to know.”Example: Atheism isn’t the belief that God is bad—it’s the belief that God doesn’t exist.
Other Word Forms
- antiatheism adjective
- proatheism noun
Etymology
Origin of atheism
First recorded in 1580–90; from Greek áthe(os) “godless” + -ism; a- 6 ( def. ), theo-
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He said his own spiritual arc included Baptist baptism as a child in Indianapolis, atheism in college and a 1980 Christmas Eve service in Boston after which he became a devoted Christian again.
From Los Angeles Times
Not because he's carefully engaged the many philosophical proofs for atheism that are out there, of course.
From Salon
The loud and malapropism-prone Archie also touched on subjects such as atheism, the virtues of premarital celibacy, the breakdown of law and order, long hair on boys and short skirts on girls.
From Los Angeles Times
McCauley, who now lives in Las Vegas, was raised in a fairly conservative Lutheran church and kept his atheism to himself for decades.
From Los Angeles Times
Ishak Ibrahim, a researcher with the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, said Egypt’s youth ministry announced plans in 2014 to combat atheism in collaboration with religious bodies.
From Seattle Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
