skeptic

American  

[skep-tik] / ˈskɛp tɪk /

Or sceptic

noun

skeptics plural

1. a person who questions the validity or authenticity of something purporting to be factual.

2. a person who maintains a doubting attitude, as toward values, plans, statements, or the character of others.

3. a person who doubts the truth of a religion, especially Christianity, or of important elements of it.

   Synonyms:

   doubter

   Antonyms:

   believer

4. (initial capital letter)

   1. a member of a philosophical school of ancient Greece, the earliest group of which consisted of Pyrrho and his followers, who maintained that real knowledge of things is impossible.

   2. any later thinker who doubts or questions the possibility of real knowledge of any kind.

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adjective

1. pertaining to skeptics or skepticism; skeptical.

2. (initial capital letter) pertaining to the Skeptics.

skeptic British  

/ ˈskɛptɪk /

noun

1. an archaic, and the usual US, spelling of sceptic

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Synonym Usage

See agnostic.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• antiskeptic
  noun
• skepticalness
  noun
• skepticism
  noun
• nonskeptic
  adjective
• skeptical
  adjective
• skeptically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• skeptics
  plural

Etymology

Origin of skeptic

1565–75; < Late Latin scepticus thoughtful, inquiring (in plural Scepticī the Skeptics) < Greek skeptikós, equivalent to sképt ( esthai ) to consider, examine (akin to skopeîn to look; see -scope) + -ikos -ic

Explanation

A skeptic is a person who doesn't believe something is true unless they see evidence. As a skeptic, you refuse to believe your sister saw a ghost — after all, she can't prove it. Skeptics are doubters — they need to see proof before they will believe. If you're a skeptic, you're probably dubious about things like astrology and magic. Some skeptics feel the same way about religion, preferring facts that can be scientifically and historically proven. Coming from the Greek word skeptikos, which means "thoughtful or inquiring," it's no surprise that a skeptic is someone who asks a lot of questions — and isn't easily convinced.

Example Sentences

A skeptic when he first heard about the company in 2023, Krieger soon changed his mind as he learned more about Rocket Lab.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

A frightening encounter with a fabled Sea Hag in the third episode turns dyed-in-the-wool skeptic Tom into a believer, allowing Rhys to exercise his pipes and impressive pitch.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

Green emerged as a skeptic of digital money, while Menefee embraced the industry.

From Salon • Jun. 7, 2026

Of course, a skeptic is going to tell these Knicks that their opponents have been lousy, and what’s coming—the winner of a tense Western Conference Final between San Antonio and Oklahoma City—is far scarier.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

Though no response, spirit or mortal, was recorded, it’s assumed that the clever Miss Allen remained a skeptic.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Related Words

• agnostic
• cynic
• dissenter
• doubter
• pessimist
• questioner