agnosticism

American  

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

noun

1. 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.

2. an intellectual doctrine or attitude affirming the uncertainty of all claims to ultimate knowledge.

3. an attitude or view that does not conform to either of two opposing positions on a topic.

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agnosticism Cultural  

1. 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.)

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Etymology

Origin of agnosticism

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

agnosticism

Land acknowledgements statements, agnosticism, the utility of college education and mixed-race families in commercials all get a moment in the over-stuffed script by Kyle Rankin.

From Salon ● Oct. 7, 2026

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

I would never find someone who would understand my peculiar mix of Catholicism and agnosticism, Hispanic and American styles.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez

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Related Words

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