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. )

Example Sentences

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

But he eventually settled into an uneasy agnosticism, spent some time as an “angry atheist,” and then, many years later, in 2019, converted to Catholicism.

From Slate • Sep. 30, 2024

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

From Washington Times • Jun. 6, 2023

Cullors revealed that she was raised a Jehovah’s Witness, but later went through phases of atheism and agnosticism.

From New York Times • Mar. 23, 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

Related Words

• ambiguity
• apprehension
• confusion
• difficulty
• disbelief
• distrust
• fear
• hesitation
• misgiving
• mistrust
• problem
• qualm
• reluctance
• skepticism
• suspense
• suspicion
• uncertainty