Sceptic
/ˈskɛp.tɪk/noun
A person who doubts, questions, or withholds belief until evidence is provided.
Did you know?Sceptic comes from Greek skeptikos, tied to the same root as “scope” and “scope out,” so the word’s oldest energy is literally *looking closely* before believing.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*skei-
“to cut, split, separate; to look closely / inspect”
Ancient Greek
Greek
skeptesthai
“to look at, examine, consider”
Ancient Greek
Greek
skeptikos
“inquisitive, reflective; a philosophical inquirer”
Late Latin
Latin
scepticus
“a Skeptic, especially a follower of the philosophical school”
14th–16th Century
English
sceptike / skeptic
“a doubter; one who questions accepted belief”
Modern English
English
sceptic
“a person inclined to doubt or question claims”
Explore more surprising origins