antireligion
|an-ti-re-li-gion|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.ti.rɪˈlɪdʒən/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.tɪrɪˈlɪdʒ(ə)n/
against religion
Etymology
'antireligion' originates from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') combined with the noun 'religion' (from Latin 'religio').
'religion' derives from Latin 'religio' (via Old French and Middle English 'religion') and entered modern English; 'antireligion' was formed in modern English by adding the prefix 'anti-' to 'religion' (usage becoming more common in the 19th and 20th centuries).
Initially the parts meant 'against' + 'reverence/scruple' (from 'religio'); over time the combined term came to mean 'opposition or hostility toward religion' in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
opposition to religion; hostility toward religious beliefs, practices, or institutions.
His public antireligion drew fierce criticism from community leaders.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/08 23:22