skeptic

American  

[skep-tik] / ˈskɛp tɪk /

Or sceptic

noun

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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Related Words

See agnostic.

Other Word Forms

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

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

Appeared in the February 26, 2026, print edition as 'A Vaccine Skeptic for Surgeon General'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

But Michael Shermer, editor of Skeptic magazine, is skeptical.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 4, 2021

“Randi is the man,” Michael Shermer, editor of Skeptic magazine, told the Times in 2001.

From Washington Post • Oct. 21, 2020

Skeptic that I am, I did my own research, and you know what?

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2020

"Nevertheless, there has been considerable fishing done on that river, first and last," asserted the Skeptic, with a twinkle at the Philosopher, who looked uncomfortable.

From A Court of Inquiry by Richmond, Grace S. (Grace Smith)

Related Words

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