Definition of infidel
1 : one who is not a Christian or who opposes Christianity
2a : an unbeliever with respect to a particular religionb : one who acknowledges no religious belief
3 : a disbeliever in something specified or understood
infidel
adjectiveFrom the M-W Editors
Examples of infidel in a Sentence
a holy war against the infidels
Recent Examples of infidel from the Web
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When Christendom launched the Crusades, the holy wars that shaped Europe, in the eleventh century, Jews were the paradigmatic enemy inside (the infidel near at hand), and Muslims became the defining enemy outside (the infidel far away).
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But the Sunni extremists of Islamic State branded these Iraqis as infidels or heretics, and several hundred thousand members of these communities fled the group’s clutches, abandoning their property and homes.
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Over what — infidels, gays, society’s failure to grant him proper deference, all of it — remains unclear.
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To his kidnappers, Pearl was not a messenger to the outside world, but a scapegoat to be sacrificed for the sins of his fellow infidels.
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Their infidels are committing suicide by the hundreds on the gates of Baghdad.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'infidel'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of infidel
Middle English infidele, from Middle French, from Late Latin infidelis unbelieving, from Latin, unfaithful, from in- + fidelis faithful — more at fidelity
Other Christian Religious Terms
INFIDEL Defined for English Language Learners
infidel
playDefinition of infidel for English Language Learners
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: a person who does not believe in a religion that someone regards as the true religion
INFIDEL Defined for Kids
infidel
playDefinition of infidel for Students
: a person who does not believe in a certain religion
Learn More about infidel
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Spanish Central: Translation of infidel Nglish: Translation of infidel for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of infidel for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
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