sceptic

[ skep-tik ]
/ ˈskɛp tɪk /

noun, adjective

OTHER WORDS FROM sceptic

an·ti·scep·tic, noun

Definition for sceptic (2 of 2)

skeptic

or scep·tic

[ skep-tik ]
/ ˈskɛp tɪk /

noun

a person who questions the validity or authenticity of something purporting to be factual.
a person who maintains a doubting attitude, as toward values, plans, statements, or the character of others.
a person who doubts the truth of a religion, especially Christianity, or of important elements of it.
(initial capital letter) Philosophy.
  1. a member of a philosophical school of ancient Greece, the earliest group of which consisted of Pyrrho and his followers, who maintained that real knowledge of things is impossible.
  2. any later thinker who doubts or questions the possibility of real knowledge of any kind.

adjective

pertaining to skeptics or skepticism; skeptical.
(initial capital letter) pertaining to the Skeptics.

Origin of skeptic

1565–75; < Late Latin scepticus thoughtful, inquiring (in plural Scepticī the Skeptics) < Greek skeptikós, equivalent to sképt(esthai) to consider, examine (akin to skopeîn to look; see -scope) + -ikos -ic

synonym study for skeptic

3. See agnostic.

OTHER WORDS FROM skeptic

an·ti·skep·tic, noun non·skep·tic, adjective, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH skeptic

cynic optimist pessimist skeptic

Example sentences from the Web for sceptic

British Dictionary definitions for sceptic (1 of 3)

sceptic

archaic, US skeptic

/ (ˈskɛptɪk) /

noun

a person who habitually doubts the authenticity of accepted beliefs
a person who mistrusts people, ideas, etc, in general
a person who doubts the truth of religion, esp Christianity

adjective

of or relating to sceptics; sceptical

Derived forms of sceptic

scepticism or archaic, US skepticism, noun

Word Origin for sceptic

C16: from Latin scepticus, from Greek skeptikos one who reflects upon, from skeptesthai to consider

British Dictionary definitions for sceptic (2 of 3)

Sceptic

archaic, US Skeptic

/ (ˈskɛptɪk) /

noun

a member of one of the ancient Greek schools of philosophy, esp that of Pyrrho, who believed that real knowledge of things is impossible

adjective

of or relating to the Sceptics

Derived forms of Sceptic

Scepticism or archaic, US Skepticism, noun

British Dictionary definitions for sceptic (3 of 3)

skeptic
/ (ˈskɛptɪk) /

noun, adjective

an archaic, and the usual US, spelling of sceptic

Derived forms of skeptic

skeptical, adjective skeptically, adverb skepticalness, noun skepticism, noun