sceptic

American  

[skep-tik] / ˈskɛp tɪk /

noun

1. skeptic.

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sceptic ¹ British  

/ ˈskɛptɪk /

noun

1. a person who habitually doubts the authenticity of accepted beliefs

2. a person who mistrusts people, ideas, etc, in general

3. a person who doubts the truth of religion, esp Christianity

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adjective

1. of or relating to sceptics; sceptical

Sceptic ² British  

/ ˈskɛptɪk /

noun

1. a member of one of the ancient Greek schools of philosophy, esp that of Pyrrho, who believed that real knowledge of things is impossible

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adjective

1. of or relating to the Sceptics

Other Word Forms

• Scepticism noun
• antisceptic noun
• scepticism noun

Etymology

Origin of sceptic

C16: from Latin scepticus, from Greek skeptikos one who reflects upon, from skeptesthai to consider

Example Sentences

The exodus comes as health experts voice concern over the agency's approach to immunisations under the leadership of Kennedy, a vaccine sceptic.

From BBC • Aug. 27, 2025

So does Kennedy - probably the country's most famous vaccine sceptic – have a point, or is he making a monumental miscalculation?

From BBC • Aug. 6, 2025

Kennedy, though, has hired David Geier, a noted vaccine sceptic, to look again at the data.

From BBC • Jun. 30, 2025

Geier is a leading vaccine sceptic who was fined by the state of Maryland for practicing medicine without a medical degree or licence and prescribing dangerous treatments to autistic children.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2025

I fear, sir, you are a confirmed sceptic upon this point, and further argument might only result in one or the other of us losing his temper.

From Strange Stories by Allen, Grant