'nihilist' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'nihil,' where 'nihil' meant 'nothing.'

'nihilist' changed from the German word 'Nihilist' and eventually became the modern English word 'nihilist'.

Initially, it meant 'one who believes in nothing,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a person who believes that life is meaningless and rejects all religious and moral principles.'