disbelief
Americannoun
-
the inability or refusal to believe or to accept something as true.
-
We stared at the Taj Mahal in disbelief.
idioms
noun
Etymology
Origin of disbelief
Explanation
When you express disbelief, you make it clear that you don't believe something is real or true. Your reaction to your little brother's stories about fairies is likely to be disbelief. You'll probably encounter a lot of disbelief if you go around telling everyone you saw a UFO. You'll feel a sense of disbelief yourself if you learn you've won the lottery. In both cases, it just doesn't seem possible or real. The belief part of disbelief comes from the Old English word geleafa, "belief or faith," which evolved into bileave before becoming belief. The prefix dis- means "not" or "the opposite of."
Vocabulary lists containing disbelief
Power Prefix: dis-
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All American Boys
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dis-
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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.
“And then it did,” Milton said, shaking his head, still in disbelief.
From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026
Even high-profile cases involving figures like Sean Combs reflect the same cultural reflex: disbelief, deflection, delay.
From Slate • Apr. 25, 2026
He insisted the event was real, sparking both disbelief and amusement among peers and online observers alike.
From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026
"I do," Laing insists, met with visible disbelief from Habboo.
From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026
The voice is wary and soft, but with notes of excited disbelief.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
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.
