unbeliever

American  

[uhn-bi-lee-ver] / ˌʌn bɪˈli vər /

noun

1. a person who does not believe.

2. a person who does not accept any, or some particular, religious belief.

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unbeliever British  

/ ˌʌnbɪˈliːvə /

noun

1. a person who does not believe or withholds belief, esp in religious matters

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Etymology

Origin of unbeliever

1520–30; un- ¹ + believer ( def. )

Explanation

An unbeliever is a person who is skeptical of a particular religion. Most places of worship welcome all people, even unbelievers. If you're not a believer — that is, if you don't believe in something — you're an unbeliever. This noun usually turns up in religious contexts, either as another word for an atheist (someone who doesn't believe in any god or deity), or simply to denote someone who isn't a follower of a certain religion. If you're a Unitarian, your devout Catholic relatives might consider you to be an unbeliever.

Example Sentences

In the Hadith, an Islamic holy book said to contain the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, Dajjal is described as having curly hair, one eye, and the word "kafir" - unbeliever - on his forehead.

From BBC • Dec. 6, 2019

But Eitzel is a more thoroughgoing unbeliever, from a more skeptical age, especially as an AIDS-era gay artist who spent a fair slice of his career half in and half out of the closet.

From Slate • Jan. 30, 2017

How could she be at once such a stringent moralist and an unbeliever?

From Salon • Oct. 8, 2012

Theroux conceded that he could not challenge their beliefs because he did not know any theology and was an unbeliever.

From The Guardian • Apr. 6, 2011

In the four years since his divorce became final, it’s fair to say that the conductor has become something of an unbeliever.

From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon