/skep"tik/ , n.
1. a person who questions the validity or authenticity of something purporting to be factual.
2. a person who maintains a doubting attitude, as toward values, plans, statements, or the character of others.
3. a person who doubts the truth of a religion, esp. Christianity, or of important elements of it.
4. ( cap. ) Philos.
a. a member of a philosophical school of ancient Greece, the earliest group of which consisted of Pyrrho and his followers, who maintained that real knowledge of things is impossible.
b. any later thinker who doubts or questions the possibility of real knowledge of any kind.
adj.
5. pertaining to skeptics or skepticism; skeptical.
6. ( cap. ) pertaining to the Skeptics.
Also, sceptic .
[ 1565-75; scepticus thoughtful, inquiring (in pl. Sceptici the Skeptics) skeptikós, equiv. to sképt ( esthai ) to consider, examine (akin to skopeîn to look; see -SCOPE) + -ikos -IC ]
Syn. 3. doubter. See atheist .
Ant. 3. believer.