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disbelief

American  
[dis-bi-leef] / ˌdɪs bɪˈlif /

noun

  1. the inability or refusal to believe or to accept something as true.

  2. amazement; astonishment.

    We stared at the Taj Mahal in disbelief.

idioms

  1. suspension of disbelief, the implicit convention requiring a reader, spectator, etc., to set aside their usual criteria for judging the reality or credibility of an experience in order to be be fully immersed in a fictional or fantastic reality: According to Coleridge, enlightened readers could still enjoy literature about the supernatural because of the phenomenon he named “willing suspension of disbelief.”

    The absurd plot in the last episode stretched our suspension of disbelief to the breaking point.

    According to Coleridge, enlightened readers could still enjoy literature about the supernatural because of the phenomenon he named “willing suspension of disbelief.”
disbelief British  
/ ˌdɪsbɪˈliːf /

noun

  1. refusal or reluctance to believe

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of disbelief

First recorded in 1665–75; dis- 1 + belief

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.

He insisted the event was real, sparking both disbelief and amusement among peers and online observers alike.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

"There has been a tremendous amount of disbelief for me, it's just so extraordinary," said Canadian Jeremy Hansen during a Q&A session with press late Thursday.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

In a statement issued earlier this week Amy's family said they have been "crushed with disbelief, sadness and pain".

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

In her interview with Kotb, Savannah Guthrie detailed her family’s pain and disbelief since her mother’s disappearance more than 50 days ago.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Koffi didn’t take her eyes off the beast, but her voice held nothing but disbelief.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

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.