What does "atheism" mean?
A non-belief in deities.; Belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs).
Atheism
/ˈeɪ.θi.ɪ.zəm/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A non-belief in deities.; Belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs).
- Grammar: atheism is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: agnosticism, apostasy, atheistic studies, backsliding.
- Useful contrasts: almighty, pantheistic, religious system.
- Usage evidence: Socrates was accused of atheism because he did not believe in Zeus.
How to use "atheism"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "atheism" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "atheism" in a final draft.
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Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "atheism" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 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 a lack of belief in the existence of God or gods wordnet
- 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 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 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)."
Show 1 more definition
- 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."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Socrates was accused of atheism because he did not believe in Zeus."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "atheism"?
Common synonyms include: agnosticism, apostasy, atheistic studies, backsliding, denial, desertion.
How do you use "atheism" in a sentence?
Socrates was accused of atheism because he did not believe in Zeus.
How do you pronounce "atheism"?
Pronounced /ˈeɪ.θi.ɪ.zəm/.
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).