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nonreligious person

nonreligious person

3.9
A person who does not believe in any god or take part in worship
  • noun
translation icon : persona no religiosa

Examples

  • I do not think I know anything that nonreligious people do not know, or that I have access to something "extra" that they do not.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Religious individuals seem to be somewhat happier and more satisfied with life than nonreligious people.

    Academic text (1994)
  • I think that nonreligious people do have "access" to religious beliefs just as much and exactly to the same extent as religious people do, but rather differ in having made a different choice in regard to them.

    Academic text (1997)
  • In recent years, the number of nonreligious people has steadily increased across many societies.

  • Many nonreligious people advocate for secularism and equal treatment in public policy.

  • A nonreligious person might celebrate holidays in a cultural way rather than a religious one.

Synonyms

atheist
vsnonreligious person
428 4.1

A person who does not believe in any god

is about not following or showing devotion rather than belief about gods
unbeliever
vsnonreligious person
21 5.4

A person who does not accept a religion, idea, or set of teachings

is about not following or practicing religion rather than rejecting specific beliefs
nonbeliever
vsnonreligious person
14 5.2

A person who does not believe in God or in any religion

is focused on absence of practice or devotion rather than doubt about beliefs
disbeliever
vsnonreligious person
4 5.5

A person who does not accept an idea or religion

is about not practicing religion rather than general refusal of claims or ideas
nonreligious
vsnonreligious person
4.6

A person who does not follow or belong to any religion

is the longer phrase that adds an explicit word for a person
nonadherent
vsnonreligious person
8.1

A person who does not belong to or support a particular group

is about lack of practice or devotion rather than just membership
unchurched
vsnonreligious person
8.2

People who do not go to church or belong to any religious group

is broader focusing on not practicing or showing devotion beyond attendance
irreligionist
vsnonreligious person
9.9

A person who does not follow a faith and may be against it

is neutral about practice and does not imply indifference or hostility

Antonyms

A person who strongly believes in a faith and follows its ways

How Religious

zealot
  • Offensive
38 8.1
nonreligious person
3.9
atheist
428 4.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

nonreligious + person

The meaning 'a person who does not follow or practice any religion' is directly and transparently composed from 'nonreligious' (not practicing or influenced by religion) + 'person' (a human individual). This is a straightforward compositional noun phrase using a negating prefix and common nouns, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Nonreligious person is made from non- meaning 'not', plus religious and person. It creates a simple picture of someone living 'without religion', so it means a person who does not follow or practice any religion.