Incredulosity

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ɪnˌkɹɛd͡ʒəˈlɒsɪti/

Definitions

1. The condition of showing intense skepticism or doubt regarding the veracity of claims or beliefs
2. A frequent inclination to disbelieve information or assertions, often accompanied by suspicion
3. The state of holding a strong doubt or disbelief about the truth of something

Etymology: Incredulosity is a plain formation: the adjective "incredulous" with the suffix "-ity" attached, so the word means the quality or state of being incredulous. The "-ity" ending is the familiar one found in words like "curiosity" and "sanity," and the pattern is what gave the word its shape. The adjective "incredulous" comes from Latin "incredulus," made of the negating prefix "in-" and "credulus," meaning "believing" or "credulous," from "credere," "to believe." So the word's core idea is simply not believing, carried through two layers of Latin-derived building blocks before reaching English. Because "incredulous" is the base, the noun inherits its sense directly: a state of strong doubt or disbelief about whether something is true. Its meaning tracks the adjective closely, with no major shift along the way.

Synonyms: disbelief, skepticism

Antonyms: credulity, belief