irreligious

American  

[ir-i-lij-uhs] / ˌɪr ɪˈlɪdʒ əs /

adjective

1. not religious; not practicing a religion and feeling no religious impulses or emotions.

2. showing or characterized by a lack of religion.

3. showing indifference or hostility to religion.

   irreligious statements.

   Synonyms:

   ungodly, sacrilegious, profane

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irreligious British  

/ ˌɪrɪˈlɪdʒəs /

adjective

1. lacking in, indifferent to, or opposed to religious faith

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Other Word Forms

• irreligiosity
  noun
• irreligiously
  adverb
• irreligiousness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of irreligious

From the Latin word irreligiōsus, dating back to 1555–65. See ir- ², religious

Explanation

If you're irreligious, you don't believe in a religion, and you may even feel some bitterness toward religion in general. Being irreligious can vary from not caring one way or another about religion to actively opposing the very idea of religion. Atheism — not believing in any god — and agnosticism — doubting the existence of god — are seen as irreligious. You're also irreligious if you do believe in god but don't belong to a religious group or attend religious services. The ir- prefix, not, is attached to religious, "believing in a religion."

Example Sentences

“It’s not the revolution that turned some into atheists or irreligious; the revolution gave them the freedom and courage to speak up,” said Elmihy.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 4, 2023

Yet the UK is now one of the most secular nations in the world - there's a great contradiction in the fact that a nation formed along religious lines is now very irreligious, he says.

From BBC • Sep. 29, 2023

A Christmas Eve gathering might assemble irreligious friends, a meet-the-artist event at the shop might end up twice the size at her place.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 10, 2022

We’ve been denouncing religious intolerance, but I’m afraid many of us liberals have a problem with irreligious intolerance.

From New York Times • Dec. 19, 2020

Every chaplain at the front tells us that the most careless and irreligious youths and men take up a wonderfully different attitude out there.

From One Day at a Time and Other Talks on Life and Religion by Alexander, Arch.