English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun Uncommon

atheism

AY-thee-ih-zuhm

Atheism (noun) means the belief that no gods or deities exist, or the absence of belief in any deity. Example: “He converted from Catholicism to atheism in his twenties.”

noun
1
The belief that no gods or deities exist, or the absence of belief in any deity.
"He converted from Catholicism to atheism in his twenties."
"Atheism has become more openly discussed in recent decades."

How to use atheism

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishNot believing that any god exists.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with agnosticism, which is uncertainty about whether a god exists rather than a firm denial.

Easily confused with

Word forms

atheisms plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “atheism” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He converted from Catholicism to _____ in his twenties.

Etymology

From Middle French athéisme, from Greek atheos ("godless"), from a- ("without") + theos ("god").

Origin: Middle French

Related words

Frequently asked questions

What does “atheism” mean?

The word “atheism” means the belief that no gods or deities exist, or the absence of belief in any deity. In plain terms, not believing that any god exists.

How do you pronounce “atheism”?

“Atheism” is pronounced AY-thee-ih-zuhm (/ˈeɪ.θi.ɪ.zəm/ in IPA).

How do you use “atheism” in a sentence?

Here is “atheism” used in a sentence: “He converted from Catholicism to atheism in his twenties.”

What part of speech is “atheism”?

“Atheism” is a noun.

Where does the word “atheism” come from?

The word “atheism” comes from Middle French. From Middle French athéisme, from Greek atheos ("godless"), from a- ("without") + theos ("god").

Is “atheism” a common word?

“Atheism” is an uncommon word in modern English.

Featured in

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial