infidel

noun in·fi·del \ ˈin-fə-dᵊl , -fə-ˌdel \

Updated on: 8 Apr 2018

Definition of infidel

1 : one who is not a Christian or who opposes Christianity

2 a : an unbeliever with respect to a particular religion

b : one who acknowledges no religious belief

3 : a disbeliever in something specified or understood

See infidel defined for English-language learners

See infidel defined for kids

Examples of infidel in a Sentence

a holy war against the infidels

Recent Examples of infidel from the Web

In confronting that Cold War threat, the U.S. made what turned out to be a shortsighted move: fighting the Russians by encouraging Muslims to embrace a war against the infidels.

— karl vick, Time, "The Saudi Crown Prince Thinks He Can Transform the Middle East. Should We Believe Him?," 5 Apr. 2018
But rather than confronting Sufi adherents with threats, insults, violence or denouncing them as kafirs, infidels, like many Salafis have done in Libya and Egypt, Trabelsi instead tries to politely counter their arguments with scripture.

— taylor luck, The Christian Science Monitor, "How Tunisia's resilient Sufis have withstood hard-line Islamist attack," 8 Mar. 2018
Max von Sydow stars in this gripping medieval fable about a deeply religious father who wreaks revenge on infidels who rape and murder his innocent young daughter. Subtitles. 88 minutes.

— greg burnett, cleveland.com, "7 classic Ingmar Bergman films to be screened at the Peter Lewis Theater," 4 Mar. 2018
Abelard came of age during the Crusades, a series of wars in which Christians attempted to reclaim the Holy Land from infidels and supposed Christ-killers.

— john kaag, WSJ, "‘The Cloister’ Review: Enclosed Encounters," 2 Mar. 2018
Kazan was, as the narrative goes, the latest home of the infidels who had been persecuting Russian Christians for centuries.

— sophie pinkham, New Republic, "Understanding Russia’s War Stories," 26 Sep. 2017
In 1139, the Church condemned the use of crossbows against Christian enemies, though they could still be used against infidels.

— amanda foreman, WSJ, "The Psychology and History of Snipers," 7 Sep. 2017
Their leaders have declared publicly 'death to the infidels!'

— kate morrissey, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Too far, not far enough: Split reaction to court's action on travel ban," 26 June 2017
This is what is waiting for them in the world, these infidels in the trenches were killed one by one fleeing their homes.

— seamus hughes, The Atlantic, "First He Became an American—Then He Joined ISIS," 25 May 2017

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

infidel

adjective

Definition of infidel

1 : not holding the faith of a given religion

Either they must come to terms with surrounding infidel tribes or they must conquer the hinterland.
—Daniel J. Boorstin

the infidel nations

2 : opposing or traitorous to a given religion

infidel writers

an infidel sect

Recent Examples of infidel from the Web

But it is widely believed to have increased support for Islamists such as the Muslim Brotherhood, which believes Islam must be at war with an infidel West.

— max singer, WSJ, "How the Saudis Can Promote Moderate Islam," 3 Aug. 2017
Mr Shihab has denounced Mr Cornelis as a kafir, or infidel.

— The Economist, "Borneo againIndonesian Islamists open a new front in their war on tolerance," 20 July 2017
Al-Binali was at the time reportedly head of the ISIS Research and Fatwa Department, which released a fatwa allowing rape of infidel women around the time of the campaign against the Yazidis and their subsequent enslavement.

— robert windrem, NBC News, "ISIS Leader Who Approved Sex Slaves Killed By U.S. Airstrike," 2 June 2017
There were female jailers who beat and cursed her and called her an infidel.

— robert f. worth, New York Times, "Aleppo After the Fall," 24 May 2017
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).

— james carroll, The New Yorker, "What Donald Trump Doesn’t Understand About Anti-Semitism," 23 Feb. 2017
By the time of the Hispaniola revolt, Spanish authorities had already forbidden travel by any infidel, whether Muslim, Jewish, or Protestant, to its New World colonies, which at the time included the land that is now the United States.

— andrew lawler, Smithsonian, "Muslims Were Banned From the Americas as Early as the 16th Century," 7 Feb. 2017
They were forced by the Hisbah to stand up in mosques and public squares, in front of crowds, and declare their regret for having enforced the laws of the infidel government.

— National Geographic, "Surviving the Fall of ISIS," 17 Oct. 2016

First Known Use of infidel

1551

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

INFIDEL Defined for Kids

infidel

noun in·fi·del \ ˈin-fə-dᵊl , -fə-ˌdel \

Definition of infidel for Students

: a person who does not believe in a certain religion

Learn More about infidel

Spanish Central: Translation of infidel Nglish: Translation of infidel for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of infidel for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up infidel? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

infidel

Definition of infidel

Examples of infidel in a Sentence

Recent Examples of infidel from the Web

Origin and Etymology of infidel

infidel

Definition of infidel

Recent Examples of infidel from the Web

First Known Use of infidel

INFIDEL Defined for Kids

infidel

Definition of infidel for Students

Learn More about infidel

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

slew

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

The Fossil Encased in "Case In Point"

‘Sleight’ or ‘Slight’ of Hand?

'Complement' vs. 'Compliment'

Words from Letters in the Greek Alphabet

Ask the Editors

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Words of the Year: 1066

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

More Confusing Words—Quiz

Name That Thing

Word Winder's CrossWinder

The Fossil Encased in "Case In Point"

Trending: 'Venom' Trailer Drives Searches for 'Symbiote'

Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek Alphabet

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

infidel

Definition of infidel

Examples of infidel in a Sentence

Recent Examples of infidel from the Web

Origin and Etymology of infidel

infidel

Definition of infidel

Recent Examples of infidel from the Web

First Known Use of infidel

INFIDEL Defined for Kids

infidel

Definition of infidel for Students

Learn More about infidel

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

The Fossil Encased in "Case In Point"

Trending: 'Venom' Trailer Drives Searches for 'Symbiote'

Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek Alphabet

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes