Atheism

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈeɪθiɪzÉ™m/

Origin

16th century French athéisme, from athée ("atheist"), a loan from Ancient Greek ἄθεος (átheos, "godless"), from ἀ- (a-, "without") + θεός (theos, "deity, god").

First English attestation dates to 1587 (OED).

Full definition of atheism

Noun

1. (narrowly) Belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs).
2. (broadly) Rejection of belief that any deities exist (with or without a belief that no deities exist).
3. (very broadly) Absence of belief that any deities exist (including absence of the concept of deities).
4. (loosely, uncommon) Absence of belief in a particular deity, pantheon, or religious doctrine (notwithstanding belief in other deities).

Usage notes

The term atheism may refer either to:

(rejection of belief) an explicit rejection of belief, with or without a denial that any deities exist (explicit atheism),

(absence of belief) an absence of belief in the existence of any deities (weak atheism or soft atheism),

(affirmative belief) an explicit belief that no gods exist (strong atheism or hard atheism).

Derived terms

• apatheism

Related terms