skeptic
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.someone who does not easily believe what they are told and wants proof before they accept something as true.
n.a person who maintains a questioning attitude toward claims or beliefs that are generally accepted by others.
Simple“I was a skeptic at first, but the results of the experiment convinced me.”
In context“Even the most hardened skeptics were forced to admit that the new economic policy had produced measurable improvements in the local market.”
UsageOften followed by the preposition 'of'.
PitfallHe is a skeptic about the new plan. He is a skeptic of the new plan.While 'about' is sometimes used, 'of' is the more standard preposition following the noun 'skeptic'.
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.someone who doubts the truth of religious beliefs or organized religion.
n.a person who questions or doubts the validity of religious doctrines or the existence of a deity.
Simple“The book explores the history of religious skeptics in the nineteenth century.”
In context“The philosopher was known as a lifelong skeptic who challenged the church's influence on public education and scientific research.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.having or showing doubt about something.
adj.expressing or characterized by a questioning or doubting attitude.
Simple“She gave him a skeptic look when he said he would be home by midnight.”
In context“The committee remained skeptic regarding the feasibility of the project, despite the optimistic projections provided by the consultants.”
Teacher's tipIn modern English, the adjective form 'skeptical' is much more common than using 'skeptic' as an adjective.
“Green parties lost out in the 2024 European elections, and the business-friendly centre-right now holds sway in a European Parliament where climate sceptics on the far-right also have a bigger say.”
Borrowed from Middle French sceptique (but with a pronunciation closer to that of the Greek etymon), or possibly directly from Late Latin scepticus (originally attested only in the plural Scepticī (“the sect of Skeptics”)), from Ancient Greek σκεπτικός (skeptikós, “thoughtful, inquiring”), from σκέπτομαι (sképtomai, “I consider”), compare to σκοπέω (skopéō, “I view, examine”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.