nonbelief

1 6.7

A lack of belief in God or other religious ideas

noun
/ˌnɒn.bɪˈliːf/

: no creencia

Again, Stark isn't interested in the Oval Office, but considering that almost 90 percent of Americans disagree with his personal nonbelief, why did he make it public?
belief and nonbelief
religious nonbelief

Examples

Nonbelievers have mostly chosen that nonbelief in the face of a constant storm generated by believers.

Blog text (21)
Yet through it all, I have gained a deeper understanding of my own commitment to religious nonbelief and intellectual honesty.

Academic text (2009)
Albany Times-Union ran a front-page Sunday story on the growing acceptance of nonbelief in the region.

Blog text (21)
Both belief and nonbelief are directed by the heart's primal protest at whatever is unsatisfactory in our daily lives to the contemplation of its transcendence.

Academic text (1995)
Founded in 1882, the Ethical Humanist Society (EHS) bills itself as "a democratic fellowship and spiritual home for those who seek a rational, compassionate philosophy of life without regard to belief or nonbelief in a supreme being."

Blog text (15)
Many people face prejudice because of their nonbelief in traditional religions.
The rise of nonbelief in society has led to more open discussions about spirituality.
His nonbelief was clearly evident during the religious debate at the community center.

Synonyms

atheism

vsnonbelief

198 5.8

To not believe that God or gods exist

is neutral absence of belief and does not always claim gods do not exist

disbelief

vsnonbelief

86 3.0

A feeling when you do not think something is true

is focused on religion and supernatural absence rather than any general doubt

unbelief

vsnonbelief

6 7.5

Not accepting religious ideas about gods

focuses more broadly on absence of belief including God and the supernatural

godlessness

vsnonbelief

2 8.3

A lack of belief in God or religion

is general absence of belief not necessarily implying impiety or ungodliness

secularity

vsnonbelief

1 7.2

A state of being not connected to religion

focuses on personal absence of belief rather than institutional separation from religion

irreligion

vsnonbelief

1 9.5

Not following or believing in any religion

is broader and often means simple lack of belief rather than rejection

irreligiousness

vsnonbelief

9.3

The state of not believing in God or following a religion

is more general, covering absence of belief including God and supernatural matters

nonreligion

vsnonbelief

6.8

Not having religious beliefs or belonging to any religion

is concerned with absence of belief including supernatural and personal gods

irreligiosity

vsnonbelief

9.5

A lack of religious belief or practice

is the neutral lack of belief rather than indifference or opposition

unfaith

vsnonbelief

Archaic

9.9

Lack of belief in religious or moral ideas

is broader and applies to lack of belief beyond moral contexts too

Antonyms

belief

∞ 1.1

A feeling that something is true even without proof

How Believing

conviction

258 4.5

belief

∞ 1.1

doubt

∞ 1.6

nonbelief

1 6.7

atheism

198 5.8

Surface Forms

nonbelief singular

nonbeliefs plural

Morphology

nonbelief = belief (transparent) = non + belief

Formed by the productive negative prefix 'non-' added to 'belief', so the meaning 'lack of belief' is directly derivable.

Etymology

Nonbelief is built from the prefix non- meaning 'not' and the word belief, like in nonstop or nonexistent. So nonbelief simply means 'not believing' or the absence of belief, often used for not believing in religion or the supernatural.