Antireligion

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A doctrine that fundamentally rejects religious belief systems as irrelevant or flawed
2. The view or attitude that opposes religion and its influence in society
3. A stance that denies the validity or value of religious beliefs and institutions

Etymology: Antireligion is a plain compound: the Greek prefix "anti-", meaning "against" or "opposed to", attached to "religion". The noun "religion" reached English through Middle English from Old French, and it came ultimately from Latin "religiō", a word whose own history is debated among scholars. Its more familiar relatives include "religious" and "religiosity", so the new word is simply the opposite of an established concept. The Greek prefix "anti-" has been a productive element in English since the early modern period, when it was used to form words for opposition, rivalry, and counteraction. Attaching it to "religion" follows that pattern directly. The result describes opposition to religion as a stance, rather than a particular belief system or a specific rival faith.

Synonyms: secularism, atheism

Antonyms: religion, theism