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.
Beginning in the 1870s, atheism and indifference to religion became popular, especially among younger intellectuals.
From Salon • Jun. 29, 2026
The first half of Communion, on Vance’s journey from evangelical Christianity to atheism to Catholicism, takes the reader through his disillusionment with the conservative evangelical churches of his youth.
From Slate • Jun. 18, 2026
He told him to "first decide whether you will do it on atheism grounds or on gay grounds…then I will draw you a full outline".
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
Few of the author’s converts came from committed atheism.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
Descartes and Boyle are confident they can protect themselves from atheism, the first by distinguishing mind from matter, and the second by regarding the natural world as providing proof of God’s design.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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.
