irreligion

[ir-i-lij-uh n]

See more synonyms for irreligion on Thesaurus.com

noun

lack of religion.
hostility or indifference to religion; impiety.

Origin of irreligion

First recorded in 1585–95, irreligion is from the Latin word irreligiōn- (stem of irreligiō). See ir-², religion

Related formsir·re·li·gion·ist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for irreligion

nihilism, infidelity, disbelief, unbelief, impiety, doubt, heresy, skepticism, irreverence, paganism, freethinking, iconoclasm, irreligion

Examples from the Web for irreligion

Historical Examples of irreligion

Yet the irreligion of the West was painted darker than it really was.
Union and Democracy
Allen Johnson
Yet let no one think that irreligion is advocated in this book.
Lavengro
George Borrow
Something was said, too, that I could not catch, about her irreligion.
The International Monthly Magazine, Volume 5, No. 1, January, 1852
Various
We have, that is to say, been swayed by the spirit of irreligion rather than of religion.
Third class in Indian railways
Mahatma Gandhi
To his violences of temper he added a reputation for irreligion.
A History of French Literature
Edward Dowden

British Dictionary definitions for irreligion

irreligion

noun

lack of religious faith
indifference or opposition to religion

Derived Formsirreligionist, noun

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

Word Origin and History for irreligion

1590s, from Late Latin irreligionem (nominative irreligio) "irreligion, impiety," from assimiliated form of in- "not" (see in- (1)) + religio (see religion).