What does irreligious mean?
Irreligious means lacking religious beliefs or practices, and it can also describe an attitude marked by indifference or opposition toward religion. In neutral contexts, it may simply indicate that someone does not participate in a religion or considers religion unimportant to their life. In more critical contexts, it can suggest active resistance to religious belief or institutions. The word is formal and less common than nonreligious, secular, or atheist in ordinary discussion, but it is useful when the emphasis is on a person's or society's relationship to religion as a whole. It can describe both individuals and attitudes, beliefs, movements, and social institutions. The adjective is sometimes confused with atheist, but an atheist is specifically someone who rejects belief in a god or gods, while irreligious is broader and can describe a range of nonreligious or anti-religious outlooks.
adjectiveNot having religious beliefs or practices, or showing indifference or hostility toward religion.
- Not having religious beliefs or practices.
- Indifferent to, or actively opposed to, religion.
"The museum's purpose is to promote an irreligious and secular view of human history."
"Many people in the region lead an irreligious life without considering religion an important part of their identity."
"The speech was criticized for its irreligious tone and its dismissal of religious traditions."
Irreligious can describe either simple nonbelief or an active hostility toward religion, so context determines whether it sounds neutral or confrontational.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does irreligious come from?
The word comes from Latin irreligiosus, formed from the prefix in- meaning “not” and religiosus, meaning religious or devout. English borrowed it in the 17th century as a term for people who lacked religious faith or observance. It belongs to the same Latin-derived family as religious, religion, and religiosity, with the prefix providing the sense of negation.
Related word forms
How irreligious is actually used
This is a formal and relatively uncommon term. It can be neutral when describing a nonreligious person or society, but it may sound hostile or accusatory when used of attitudes or movements opposed to religion. It is not necessarily synonymous with atheism.
Easily confused with irreligious
An atheist is a noun for someone who does not believe in the existence of a god, whereas irreligious is an adjective describing a lack of religious belief or an indifferent or hostile attitude toward religion.