noun
Uncommon
atheist
AY-thee-ihst
Atheist (noun) means a person who does not believe that any gods or deities exist. Example: “She has identified as an atheist since college.”
noun
1
A person who does not believe that any gods or deities exist.
"She has identified as an atheist since college."
"Many atheists still hold strong ethical beliefs."
"As an atheist, he does not pray, but he enjoys visiting old churches."
adjective
1
Relating to atheism or people who do not believe in gods.
"He grew up in an atheist household."
"The society hosts atheist speakers who talk about life without religion."
"She wrote an atheist view of the holiday for the school magazine."
How to use atheist
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who doesn't believe in any god.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- atheists
- Third person singular
- atheists
- Past tense
- atheisted
- Comparative
- more atheist
- Superlative
- most atheist
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She has identified as an _____ since college.
Etymology
From Middle French athéiste, from Greek atheos ("godless"), from a- ("without") + theos ("god").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for atheist
See all rhymes for atheist →Frequently asked questions
What does “atheist” mean?
The word “atheist” means a person who does not believe that any gods or deities exist. In plain terms, someone who doesn't believe in any god.
How do you pronounce “atheist”?
“Atheist” is pronounced AY-thee-ihst (/ˈeɪθiɪst/ in IPA).
How do you use “atheist” in a sentence?
Here is “atheist” used in a sentence: “She has identified as an atheist since college.”
What is another word for “atheist”?
Words with a similar meaning to “atheist” include nontheist, atheitard and gaytheist.
What is the opposite of “atheist”?
The opposite of “atheist” — its antonyms — is theist.
What part of speech is “atheist”?
Depending on how it is used, “atheist” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “atheist” come from?
The word “atheist” comes from Middle French. From Middle French athéiste, from Greek atheos ("godless"), from a- ("without") + theos ("god").
Is “atheist” a common word?
“Atheist” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between an atheist and an agnostic?
An atheist is a person who does not believe that any gods or deities exist, taking a definite position of disbelief. An agnostic instead holds that the existence of gods is unknown or unknowable, a stance of uncertainty rather than outright denial.
Is atheist the same as nontheist?
"Nontheist" is a broader, often softer term for someone who lacks belief in a god, while "atheist" more specifically asserts the belief that gods do not exist. In practice the two terms overlap significantly and are often used as synonyms.
Is "atheist" capitalized?
"Atheist" is not capitalized in standard usage, since it describes a personal belief rather than a proper noun. It's written in lowercase whether used as a noun ("she is an atheist") or an adjective ("atheist beliefs").
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