# skeptic

/ˈskɛptɪk/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/skeptic
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a person who doubts

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

someone who does not easily believe what they are told and wants proof before they accept something as true.

For teachers: a person who maintains a questioning attitude toward claims or beliefs that are generally accepted by others.

- I was a skeptic at first, but the results of the experiment convinced me.
- Even the most hardened skeptics were forced to admit that the new economic policy had produced measurable improvements in the local market.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'of'.

### 2. religious doubter

noun · CEFR C1 · American English · Formal

someone who doubts the truth of religious beliefs or organized religion.

For teachers: a person who questions or doubts the validity of religious doctrines or the existence of a deity.

- The book explores the history of religious skeptics in the nineteenth century.
- The philosopher was known as a lifelong skeptic who challenged the church's influence on public education and scientific research.

### 3. doubting

adjective · CEFR B2 · American English

having or showing doubt about something.

For teachers: expressing or characterized by a questioning or doubting attitude.

- She gave him a skeptic look when he said he would be home by midnight.
- The committee remained skeptic regarding the feasibility of the project, despite the optimistic projections provided by the consultants.

Teaching tip: In modern English, the adjective form 'skeptical' is much more common than using 'skeptic' as an adjective.

## Examples

- The scientist remained a skeptic until the results were published.
- Many people were skeptics about the new technology until they saw it work in real life.
- While the initial report was met with enthusiasm, a growing number of skeptics pointed out the lack of peer-reviewed evidence to support the claims of the researchers.

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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.