# atheism

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈeɪ.θi.ɪ.zəm/ · frequency rank #15,955

## Definitions
1. A non-belief in deities.
2. A non-belief in deities.
3. A non-belief in deities.
4. Absence of belief in a particular deity, pantheon, or religious doctrine (notwithstanding belief in other deities).
5. A rejection of all religions, even non-theistic ones.

## Etymology
16th century Middle French athéisme, from athée (“atheist”), a loan from Ancient Greek ἄθεος (átheos, “godless”, from ἀ- (a-, “without”) + θεός (theós, “deity, god”)).
First English attestation dates to 1587 (OED).

## Easily confused with
- **Athens** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/atheism-vs-athens)
- **atheist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/atheism-vs-atheist)

## Common misspellings (10)
`ahteism`, `atehism`, `atheims`, `atheismm`, `atheissm`, `athesim`, `athheism`, `athiesm`, `attheism`, `taheism`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/atheism