Synonyms

agnosticism

American

[ag-nos-tuh-siz-uhm] / ægˈnɒs təˌsɪz əm /

noun

the belief 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.
an intellectual doctrine or attitude affirming the uncertainty of all claims to ultimate knowledge.
an attitude or view that does not conform to either of two opposing positions on a topic.

agnosticism Cultural

A denial of knowledge about whether there is or is not a God. An agnostic insists that it is impossible to prove that there is no God and impossible to prove that there is one. (Compare atheism.)

Etymology

Origin of agnosticism

First recorded in 1870–75; agnostic ( def. ) + -ism ( def. )

Vocabulary lists containing agnosticism

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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.

Watching my wife’s spiritual evolution from agnosticism to Christianity, I saw that she was acquiring insights I lacked.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 16, 2025

The era of model agnosticism is really here.

From Slate • Nov. 22, 2023

E: Isn’t agnosticism frankly the most honest position?

From Washington Times • Jun. 6, 2023

Given the problems with all interpretations of quantum mechanics, agnosticism, again, strikes me as a sensible stance.

From Scientific American • Aug. 14, 2021

It occurs to me to ask that profound question of modern agnosticism: Is God dead?

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023