Atheism

//ˈeɪ.θi.ɪ.zəm// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A non-belief in deities.; Belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs). uncountable, usually

    "Near-synonyms: antireligiousness, irreligion, irreligiousness"

  2. 2
    a lack of belief in the existence of God or gods wordnet
  3. 3
    A non-belief in deities.; A lack of belief in deities, or a belief that there is insufficient evidence to believe in a god. broadly, uncountable, usually

    "Near-synonyms: irreligion, irreligiousness, nonreligion, nonreligiousness"

  4. 4
    A non-belief in deities.; Absence of belief that any deities exist (including absence of the concept of deities). uncountable, usually

    "What can parents do, and mothers more especially, […] with regard to the atheism that is natural to all the children of men?"

  5. 5
    Absence of belief in a particular deity, pantheon, or religious doctrine (notwithstanding belief in other deities). historical, rare, uncountable, usually

    "Domitilla, Flavia, niece of the emperor Domitian (81-96). She and her husband, Flavius Clemens (consul in 95 and cousin of Domitian), were probably Christians; charged with atheism and adoption of Jewish ways, they were punished (95) with death (Clemens) and exile (Domitilla)."

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  1. 6
    A rejection of all religions, even non-theistic ones. proscribed, sometimes, uncountable, usually

    "Some worldviews are based in a belief in God; others are not. Buddhism, Taoism, atheism, Marxism, and existentialism are examples of worldviews that are nontheistic."

Etymology

16th century Middle French athéisme, from athée (“atheist”), a loan from Ancient Greek ἄθεος (átheos, “godless”, from ἀ- (a-, “without”) + θεός (theós, “deity, god”)). First English attestation dates to 1587 (OED).

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