# skepticism

/ˈskɛptɪˌsɪzəm/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. general doubt

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a feeling of doubt about whether something is true or if it will work.

For teachers: an attitude of doubt or a disposition to incredulity either in general or toward a particular object.

- The public reacted with skepticism when the politician promised to lower all taxes.
- Despite the CEO's optimistic projections, there was considerable skepticism among the investors regarding the company's ability to scale so quickly.

### 2. scientific/logical method

noun · CEFR C1 · American English · Academic

the habit of only believing things that can be proven by facts and science.

For teachers: the method of suspended judgment, systematic doubt, or criticism characteristic of skeptics; a requirement for empirical evidence before accepting a claim.

- Scientific skepticism means we don't accept new ideas until we see the evidence.
- The peer-review process is designed to apply rigorous skepticism to new findings, ensuring that only well-supported theories enter the scientific canon.

### 3. philosophical doctrine

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Academic · Formal

the philosophical idea that people can never be 100% certain about anything.

For teachers: the doctrine that true knowledge or knowledge in a particular area is uncertain; the method of suspended judgment.

- In his philosophy class, they discussed skepticism and whether we can trust our own senses.
- Radical skepticism challenges the very possibility of objective knowledge, suggesting that our perceptions may not correspond to an external reality.

## Examples

- She looked at the cheap offer with a lot of skepticism.
- The scientist expressed skepticism about the new findings until the results could be repeated in another lab.
- Healthy skepticism is vital in the digital age to distinguish between evidence-based reporting and the rapid spread of unverified misinformation.

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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.