agnostic

[ag-nos-tik]

noun

1. a person who holds that the answers to the basic questions of existence, such as the nature of the ultimate cause and whether or not there is a supreme being, are unknown or unknowable.

   Synonyms: pagan, infidel, heretic, heathen, empiricism, secularism, skeptic, skeptic, doubter, unbeliever, nonbeliever, disbeliever

2. a person who denies or doubts the possibility of ultimate knowledge in some area of study.

3. a person who holds neither of two opposing positions on a topic.

   Socrates was an agnostic on the subject of immortality.

adjective

1. of or relating to agnostics or their doctrines, attitudes, or beliefs.

2. asserting the uncertainty of all claims to knowledge.

3. not taking a stand on something, especially not holding either of two usually strongly opposed positions (often used in combination).

   He's known to take an agnostic view of technological progress.

   The governor's fuel-agnostic energy policies were highly controversial.

4. (especially of digital technology) not limited or dedicated to a particular device, system, etc. (often used in combination).

   platform agnostic software.

agnostic

/ æɡˈnɒstɪk /

noun

1. a person who holds that knowledge of a Supreme Being, ultimate cause, etc, is impossible Compare atheist theist

2. a person who claims, with respect to any particular question, that the answer cannot be known with certainty

adjective

1. of or relating to agnostics

Other Word Forms

• agnostically adverb
• agnosticism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of agnostic¹

Coined in 1869 by English biologist Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95); from Greek ágnōst(os), variant of ágnōtos “not known, incapable of being known” ( a- “not, without” + gnōtós “known,” adjective derivative of gignṓskein “to know”) + -ic , after gnostic ; a- ⁶

Word History and Origins

Origin of agnostic¹

C19: coined 1869 by T. H. Huxley from _a- ¹ + _gnostic

Synonym Study

Agnostic, atheist, infidel, skeptic refer to persons not inclined toward religious belief or a particular form of religious belief. An agnostic is one who believes it impossible to know anything about God or about the creation of the universe, or who refrains from commitment to any religious doctrine because of a lack of knowledge about God or the creation of the universe. An atheist is one who does not believe in or denies the existence of a deity or of divine beings. Infidel means an unbeliever, especially a nonbeliever in Islam or Christianity, and is often disparaging and offensive, in contrast to atheist and agnostic, which are often used in self-identification. A skeptic doubts and is critical of all accepted doctrines and creeds; while a person may self-identify in this way, the term can also be applied by others.

Example Sentences

Vance’s answer went viral, in part because he claimed his wife, although from a Hindu family, was “agnostic or atheist,” and that he hoped she would convert to Christianity.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Usha, an agnostic ethnic Hindu from an Indian-immigrant family, attends church services with him, and their children are being raised as Catholic Christians.

Read more on Salon

Though I’m a crypto agnostic, I acknowledge that the most well-known coins have been exceptional, if wildly volatile, investments over the past 15 years.

Read more on MarketWatch

The most appropriate message from Fed officials in December could be one of agnostic symmetry: Going forward, we could stay here, we could raise, we could cut, depending on how plausible scenarios may play out.

Read more on MarketWatch

It is benchmark agnostic and has broad latitude within credit.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• skeptic