agnostic

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun someone who is doubtful or noncommittal about something
  2. noun a person who claims that they cannot have true knowledge about the existence of God (but does not deny that God might exist)
  3. adjective of or pertaining to an agnostic or agnosticism

Etymology

Coined by Thomas Henry Huxley in 1870. Either from Ancient Greek ἄγνωστος (ágnōstos, “ignorant, not knowing”), or from a- + Gnostic, deriving (either way) from Ancient Greek ἀ- (a-, “not”) + γιγνώσκω (gignṓskō, “I know”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

doubter

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