What does nonscientific mean?
Nonscientific means that something is not based on scientific methods, evidence, or established principles. It is commonly used to criticize claims, explanations, or practices that rely on assertion, tradition, intuition, or other methods outside accepted scientific inquiry. The word can indicate simply that a subject or approach lacks a scientific basis, especially in discussions of medicine, psychology, education, and the natural world. It may also imply that something is falsely presented as scientific, though “pseudoscientific” is often more precise for that stronger accusation. Because scientific standards and accepted evidence can change over time, the term is best applied with a clear explanation of what scientific support is missing. Overall, nonscientific is a useful and direct adjective for identifying reasoning that is disconnected from empirical research.
adjectiveNot based on, or not consistent with, scientific methods, principles, or evidence. It can also describe something presented as scientific despite lacking adequate scientific support.
- Not scientific in character, method, or basis; lacking connection to established scientific principles or evidence.
- Presented as scientific despite lacking adequate empirical support or a sound scientific method.
"The newspaper published a nonscientific account of the phenomenon without identifying any supporting research."
"The explanation was rejected as nonscientific because it relied on intuition rather than observable evidence."
"Critics accused the company of using nonscientific methods to test the treatment."
Calling something nonscientific can be neutral, but describing it as pseudoscientific suggests that its scientific appearance is misleading.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does nonscientific come from?
The word combines the prefix non-, meaning “not,” with scientific, from Latin scientificus, meaning “pertaining to knowledge” or “knowledge-producing.” The underlying Latin root scientia means “knowledge” and comes from scire, “to know.” The combined form nonscientific entered English in the 19th century as a way of describing methods or claims that lacked a scientific basis.
Related word forms
How nonscientific is actually used
The term is often used in arguments about medicine, psychology, history, and alternative practices. It may imply a factual criticism, but the adjective itself does not specify whether the subject is merely unscientific or deliberately deceptive.
Easily confused with nonscientific
Nonscientific describes anything that is not scientific or does not follow scientific methods, whereas pseudoscientific more specifically refers to claims or practices that appear scientific but lack genuine scientific validity.