Skeptic
/ˈskɛp.tɪk/noun
A person who questions claims and demands evidence before believing them.
Did you know?The word comes from Greek skeptikos, tied to skopein, “to look, examine,” so a skeptic was originally an investigator—someone who watched closely before judging.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*spek-
“to observe, look at, inspect”
Ancient Greek
Greek
skopein
“to look, examine”
Ancient Greek
Greek
skeptikos
“inquisitive, reflective; disposed to examine”
Late Latin
Latin
scepticus
“skeptical philosopher”
Middle English
English
sceptik
“a skeptic, doubter”
Modern English
English
skeptic
“a person who doubts or questions claims”
Explore more surprising origins