The Definition of Atheism

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When debating atheists, it is not uncommon to arrive at a point in the debate where atheists use the definition of atheism as some form of shield from what ever argument they are trying to make or evade. Often, atheists will have certain beliefs regarding atheism and when these beliefs are questioned, such as the belief science and atheism are linked or that atheism is an outcome of refuted evidences. These beliefs are then shielded behind the definition of atheism, as atheists feign the notion that these beliefs require no substantiation because atheism is defined as merely and simply the lack of a belief in God and is not a claim. Theists fall into this trickery and are advised to learn to separate atheism from the beliefs atheists have about atheism and force atheists to substantiate the beliefs they have for atheism. Even still, as we’ll see below, atheism is predominantly defined as a belief and not a lack of one. Hence the need for a word and hence many atheists are very active in defending their supposed lack of belief.

What is helpful is to understand how atheism is defined in the English language. Most atheists will cherry pick a certain definition of atheism and use that. Particularly, if atheism is defined as a lack of belief, atheists will peddle this definition and hide behind it. Below we show several dictionaries and an atheist philosopher and how they define atheism. Share it with atheists and eliminate that shield they hide behind.

First up at bat is Julian Baggini, PhD, an atheist, and in response to the question on what he understood by atheism he states:

It’s a belief that there is no God or gods. But it’s slightly more complicated than that because, for most self-identifying atheists, it’s not just that they don’t believe in a God or gods, but that they don’t believe in any kind of supernatural realm. So I think an atheist is, 95% of the time, a naturalist.

He wisely does not state atheism is a lack of belief. Let’s look at a few other dictionaries. I’ll display the actual screenshot from the dictionary accompanied with a link to the dictionary’s page for your verification.

Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines atheism as

The BELIEF that God does not exist

definition-of-atheism-oxford-learners-dictionary defines atheism as:

The DOCTRINE or BELIEF that there is no God


Merriam-Webster defines atheism as:

A DISBELIEF in the existence of deity and also as the DOCTRINE that there is no deity


Here’s Macmillan with a heavier slant on it:

The BELIEF that God does not exist


Collins makes it a little more severe:

REJECTION of belief in God or gods


Cambridge Dictionary agrees:

The BELIEF that God does not exist



The BELIEF that there is no god


The Free Dictionary:

DISBELIEF in or DENIAL of the existence of God or gods



The BELIEF that God does not exist


(Getting the point so far?)

The American Heritage Dictionary:






I think we get the point, as much as atheists are desperately seeking to eradicate atheism (yes, atheism), by eradicating it’s true definition, atheism is still a belief.