AGNOSTICISM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does agnosticism mean? 

• AGNOSTICISM (noun)
  The noun AGNOSTICISM has 2 senses:

1. a religious orientation of doubt; a denial of ultimate knowledge of the existence of God

2. the disbelief in any claims of ultimate knowledge

  Familiarity information: AGNOSTICISM used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• AGNOSTICISM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A religious orientation of doubt; a denial of ultimate knowledge of the existence of God

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Context example:

agnosticism holds that you can neither prove nor disprove God's existence

Hypernyms ("agnosticism" is a kind of...):

religious orientation (an attitude toward religion or religious practices)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The disbelief in any claims of ultimate knowledge

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

agnosticism; scepticism; skepticism

Hypernyms ("agnosticism" is a kind of...):

disbelief; unbelief (a rejection of belief)

 Context examples 

Mr. Morse bitterly arraigned the English philosopher's agnosticism, but confessed that he had not read First Principles; while Mr. Butler stated that he had no patience with Spencer, had never read a line of him, and had managed to get along quite well without him.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Spencer is right in his agnosticism, but if Spencer—

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)