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
Etymology
Origin of atheism
First recorded in 1580–90; from Greek áthe(os) “godless” + -ism; see a- 6 ( def. ), theo-
Explanation
Atheism is the lack of belief in the existence of a god or gods. Atheism isn't a religion — it's just the opposite. If you're fed up with religion or think that believing in God, heaven, and hell is silly, atheism just might be for you. An atheist doesn't believe in God or other supernatural beings. Some atheists state their belief more strongly, but it comes down to either "I don't believe in God" or "There is no God," which mean about the same thing. This is a stronger belief than agnosticism, which says we can't know if God exists.
Vocabulary lists containing atheism
Power Suffix: -ism
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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.
Atheism, in itself, is not criminalized in Egypt, Ibrahim said, adding that other laws are applied in some cases.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 4, 2023
In “Is Atheism Dead?,” a book released this week by D.C.-based Regnery Publishing, the New York-based author cites five scientific discoveries to support his claim of untenable atheism.
From Washington Times • Oct. 13, 2021
And it's exactly where the New Atheism movement has ended up, to the exasperation of those who still care about secularism.
From Salon • Jun. 5, 2021
The New Atheism has rather faded from prominence, partly because, as its proponents acknowledged, it was not very different from the old atheism.
From The Guardian • Feb. 16, 2019
“Yes, sir, I did make a statement like that I made it because it’s true. Atheism is not against the law.”
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
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.
