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noun

atheism

AY-thee-ih-zuhm
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
agnosticism

Word Forms

atheisms plural

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He converted from Catholicism to _____ in his twenties.

Etymology

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

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial