Agnostic
/æɡˈnɒstɪk/noun
A person who believes that the existence of God or the divine is unknowable.
Did you know?The term 'Agnostic' was coined in the late 19th century by philosopher Thomas Huxley, who linked it to the Greek word for 'unknown', revealing a profound connection to the mysteries of existence.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀγνωσία (agnosia)
“Ignorance or lack of knowledge.”
19th Century
English
Agnostic
“A term introduced by Thomas Huxley to signify a person who believes that the truth about God is unknown.”
Modern English
English
Agnostic
“Used to describe a philosophical stance regarding the limits of human knowledge, especially in relation to the divine.”
20th Century
English
Agnosticism
“The doctrine or belief that the existence of God, or the divine, is unknown or unknowable.”