Dictionary

atheism en · NOUN

Pronunciation

(US) audio
/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).

Meanings

(qualifier:strictly, uncountable, usually) A non-belief in deities. ▸ Belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs).
- Near-synonyms: antireligiousness, irreligion, irreligiousness
- For atheism to be rationally justified it is only necessary that it be more probable than not or at least more probable than theism. Certainty is no more required in the case of atheism than it is in the case of scientific theories. 2002, Michael Martin, “Should atheists be agnostics?”, in Julian Baggini, editor, The Philosophers' Magazine, number 19, →ISSN, archived from the original on 20 Dec 2002, page 18:
(broadly, uncountable, usually) A non-belief in deities. ▸ A lack of belief in deities, or a belief that there is insufficient evidence to believe in a god.
- Near-synonyms: irreligion, irreligiousness, nonreligion, nonreligiousness
- ...but Atheism per se simply means, not denial, but rejection, in the sense of not accepting the Theistic theory of the universe which Mr. Lee has put forward tonight. 1896, George William Foote with W. T. Lee, “First Night”, in Theism or Athiesm: Which is the more reasonable?, London: R. Forder, page 17:
- The theory of Secularism is a form, not of dogmatic, but of skeptical, Atheism; it is dogmatic only in denying the sufficiency of the evidence for the being and perfections of God. It does not deny, it only does not believe, His existence. 1857, James Buchanan, Modern Atheism: under its forms of Pantheism, Materialism, Secularism, Development, and Natural Laws, Boston: Gould and Lincoln, page 365:
(qualifier:very loosely, uncountable, usually) A non-belief in deities. ▸ Absence of belief that any deities exist (including absence of the concept of deities).
- What can parents do, and mothers more especially, […] with regard to the atheism that is natural to all the children of men? 1829, John Wesley, Sermons, on Several Occasions, 10th edition, volume 2, page 373:
- Atheism, in its basic form, is not a belief; it is the absence of belief. An atheist is not primarily a person who believes that a god does not exist; rather, he does not believe in the existence of a god. 1979, George H. Smith, Atheism: The Case Against God, Buffalo, New York: Prometheus, →ISBN, →LCCN, LCC BL2747.3.S6 1979, page 7:
(from a religious perspective, uncountable, usually) Neglect of one's obligations to God; behavior incongruent with belief in God (regardless of belief in the strict sense).
(historical, rare, uncountable, usually) Absence of belief in a particular deity, pantheon, or religious doctrine (notwithstanding belief in other deities).
- 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). 1995, Richard P. McBrien, editor, The HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism, HarperCollins, →ISBN, keyword Domitilla, Flavia, page 431:
- Sacrificial religion becomes redundant – which is why Christianity did indeed have a reputation in the ancient world for atheism: it rejected the key duty humans are thought to owe to the gods, namely sacrifice. 2010, Ross Thompson, Buddhist Christianity: A Passionate Openness, O-Books, →ISBN, page 260:
(proscribed, sometimes, uncountable, usually) A rejection of all religions, even non-theistic ones.
- Buddhism and atheism do agree on the view that there is no God. But Buddhism and atheist materialism totally disagree on the points such as “What is life?”, “Is there any Super natural?” etc. 2013 December 16, Yalith Wijesurendra, Buddhist Answers: For the Critical Questions: A bridge from religion to science and reason, Xlibris Corporation, →ISBN, page 254:
- 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. 2009 June 2, Ed Gungor, What Bothers Me Most about Christianity: Honest Reflections from an Open-Minded Christ Follower, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 13:
- Another reason why the transition between Buddhism and atheism seemed so easy, was my personal discomfort with the theory of reincarnation. 2016 December 13, Luke C. Hsieh, Unicorn, You Taught Me How to Fly, Lulu Press, Inc, →ISBN:

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
atheisms	Number=Plur		lexicographic

Translations (138)

id ateisme (belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs)) · tr tanrıtanımazcılık (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · kmr ateîzm (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · mi whakapono atuakore (belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs)) · gd dhiadhaireachd (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · be бязбо́жжа (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · be бязбо́жнасць (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · cs ateismus (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ru безбо́жие (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · id ateisme (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · uk атеї́зм (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ckb بێ باوەڕی (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · el αθεϊσμός (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ne नास्तिकता (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · la atheismus (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · yi אַטעיִזם (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · sq ateizëm (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · tr dinsizlik (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ko 무신론 (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ca ateisme (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · lt ateizmas (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · my ဘုရားမဲ့ဝါဒ (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · hu ateizmus (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · arz الحاد (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ro ateism (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · is trúleysi (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · pl ateizm (rejection of all religions, even non-theistic ones) · sh атеѝзам (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · fo gudloysi (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · es ateísmo (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · grc ἀθεότης (belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs)) · th อเทวนิยม (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · yue 無神論 /无神论 (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ms ateisme (belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs)) · pl ateizm (absence of belief in deities) · uz dinsizlik (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · sl ateizem (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · tr küfür (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · bn নাস্তিক্যবাদ (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · gl ateísmo (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · pnb ایتھیازم (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ru атеи́зм (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · sh ateìzam (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · is guðleysi (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · pt ateísmo (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · mk атеи́зам (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · pt ateísmo (belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs)) · km អទេវនិយម (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ta இறைமறுப்பு (belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs)) · de Gottlosigkeit (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · or ନାସ୍ତିକତା (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ug دىنسىزلىق (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ota كفر (belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs)) · nl atheïsme (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ml നിരീശ്വരവാദം (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ta நாத்திகம் (belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs)) · vi vô thần luận (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · de Atheismus (belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs)) · et ateism (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ta இறைமறுப்பு (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · cy anffyddiaeth (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · az ateizm (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · el αθεΐα (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · it ateismo (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · bg безбо́жие (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · tr ateizm (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ar زَنْدَقَة (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · sv ateism (belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs)) · te నాస్తికత (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ang gelēaflēasnes (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · hy աթեիզմ (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · eo ateismo (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · vi chủ nghĩa vô thần (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · mt ateiżmu (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ur دَہْرِیَّت (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · he אַתֶּאִיְזם (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ca ateisme (belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs)) · hy աստվածամերժություն (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ga aindiachas (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · nb ateisme (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ia atheismo (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · fa بیخدایی (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ota دینسزلك (belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs)) · ja 無神論 (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · da ateisme (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · mn бурхангүй (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · io ateismo (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ar إِلْحَاد (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · sk ateizmus (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · sv ateism (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · vo godinoam (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · mn атеизм (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · uz ateizm (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · be атэі́зм (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · kk атеизм (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ml നിരീശ്വരവാദം (belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs)) · gd dia-àicheadh (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · fr athéisme (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · af ateïsme (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · sa निरीश्वरवाद (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · tg атеизм (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · bo ལྷ་མེད་སྨྲ་བ་པོ། (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · tk ateizm (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ka ათეიზმი (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · pl ateizm (belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs)) · uz dahriylik (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · uk безбо́жжя (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ota دینسزلك (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · lv ateisms (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · de Gottesleugnung (belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs)) · cmn 無神論 /无神论 (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ps اتيزم (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · uk безбо́жність (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · el αθεΐα (belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs)) · tl ateismo (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ms ateisme (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ota كفر (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · te నాస్తిక్యము (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · hi नास्तिकता (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · bg атеи́зъм (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · mr नास्तिकता (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · el αθεϊσμός (belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs)) · oc ateïsme (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · fi ateismi (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · eu ateismo (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ky атеизм (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · vo Godinoam (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · vi thuyết vô thần (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · haw hōʻole akua (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · pl bezbożność (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · tg бехудоӣ (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · kk дінсіздік (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · ky кудайсыздык (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · de Atheismus (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · pl ateizm (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · fr athéisme (belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs)) · br dizoueegezh (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist)) · lo ອະເທວະນິຢົມ (lack of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist))

atheism en · NOUN

Pronunciation

Etymology

Meanings

Forms

Antonyms

Coordinates

Deriveds

Relateds

Synonyms

Translations (138)