# disbelief

/ˌdɪsbɪˈɫif/ (US) · /dˌɪsbɪlˈiːf/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/disbelief
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. shocked surprise

noun · CEFR B2

the feeling that you cannot believe something because it is so surprising or shocking.

For teachers: a state of astonishment or shock where the mind refuses to accept the reality of an event.

- She stared at the winning lottery ticket in total disbelief.
- The crowd watched in stunned disbelief as the underdog team scored the winning goal in the final seconds of the match.

### 2. refusal to accept

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of not believing that something is true, or a lack of faith in an idea.

For teachers: the mental rejection of a statement or doctrine; a lack of conviction regarding the truth of a claim.

- His disbelief in the new government policy was shared by many local business owners.
- The scientist expressed his disbelief regarding the study's conclusions, citing a lack of rigorous peer-reviewed evidence.

## Examples

- She stared at the winning lottery ticket in disbelief.
- The crowd watched in total disbelief as the underdog team scored the winning goal in the final seconds.
- The suspension of disbelief is a crucial element of fiction, allowing the audience to engage with a narrative that they know to be fundamentally untrue.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.