Creedless

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Devoid of any established philosophical or religious beliefs
2. Marked by the absence of a coherent set of principles or values that guide thought or behavior
3. Lacking any formal or recognized system of beliefs or doctrines that direct actions or thoughts

Etymology: "Creedless" is a plain formation: the noun "creed" with the suffix "-less" attached, meaning "without a creed." "Creed" comes from Old English "crēda," itself borrowed from Latin "credo," the first word of the Apostles' Creed, meaning "I believe." That origin is why the word centres on belief: a creed is a formal statement of what one holds to be true, and "-less" strips that away. The suffix "-less" comes from Old English "-lēas," meaning "free from" or "lacking," and it has been productive for centuries, attaching to nouns to form adjectives like "fearless" or "endless." Formations like "creedless" follow the same pattern, so the word needs no special story; it describes a person or group that holds no fixed set of beliefs.

Synonyms: unbelieving, skeptical

Antonyms: faithful, devout, believing