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# scepticism

noun (scepticism; uncountable)

«scepticism» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Doubt about whether something is true or will work. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scepticism/#m1)
2. The habit of not believing things until there is good evidence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scepticism/#m2)
3. (philosophy) The idea that we cannot be sure of some or any knowledge. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scepticism/#m3)

### In the lessons

In science and media lessons healthy scepticism means checking facts and asking «how do we know?» before believing a claim, an advert or something online. In stories a sceptical character doubts magic or ghosts. Phrases: «healthy scepticism», «treated with scepticism», «scepticism about».

### Examples

- The claim was met with scepticism. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scepticism/#x1)
- A good scientist uses scepticism and checks the evidence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scepticism/#x2)
- She viewed the advert with scepticism. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scepticism/#x3)
- Healthy scepticism helps you spot fake news. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scepticism/#x4)
- His scepticism about ghosts disappeared when the door creaked. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scepticism/#x5)
- Philosophers argue about scepticism and what we can really know. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scepticism/#x6)

### Note

UK spelling: scepticism; US spelling: skepticism. Pronounced «SKEP-ti-sizm» (the «c» sounds like «k»). Adjective: «sceptical» / «skeptical». Scepticism is not the same as refusing all evidence.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «scepticism» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scepticism/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«scepticism» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/scepticism.html) on Mova free.