nonbeliever

noun

non·​be·​liev·​er ˌnän-bə-ˈlē-vər How to pronounce nonbeliever (audio)
Synonyms of nonbelievernext
: a person who is not a believer
… a well-known nonbeliever in holiday sales or discounts …Seung Lee
a nonbeliever in ghosts
especially : atheist
… had grown up in the West and gone to college as a nonbeliever in the Bible Belt … Tim Keown

Examples of nonbeliever in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That principle protects believers and nonbelievers alike. David Williamson, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2026 Such processions draw the faithful as well as droves of nonbelievers and tourists. Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026 Or, truer to the inequity of the moment, deliverance for the faithful few; woe to us nonbelievers (ultimately this is a tax-bracket theology—the wealthier always seem to be more devout). Jonathan Odden, Artforum, 2 June 2026 The establishment clause is meant to protect everyone, including, by the way, nonbelievers and atheists. John E. Jones Iii, The Conversation, 15 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nonbeliever

Word History

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nonbeliever was in 1649

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Cite this Entry

“Nonbeliever.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonbeliever. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.

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