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

"Not only is this a sacred day, the most sacred in the Jewish calendar, but it's also a time of mass gathering, and the time when the Jewish community, however religious or irreligious, gathers together."

From BBC • Oct. 2, 2025

“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

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

Too late the Henry Goldsmiths awoke to the consciousness of her tyranny, which did not permit them to be irreligious even in private.

From The Grandchildren of the Ghetto by Zangwill, Israel