scepticism
UK: ˈskɛptɪsɪzəm | US: ˈskɛptɪsɪzəm
n. A skeptical attitude; doubt as to the truth of something.
n. (Philosophy) The doctrine that true knowledge or certainty is unattainable.
Derived from the Greek "skeptikos" (meaning "inquiring" or "reflective"), which itself comes from "skeptesthai" (to examine). The morpheme "sceptic" entered English via Latin "scepticus," retaining its core meaning of doubt or inquiry. The suffix "-ism" was added in the 17th century to form a noun denoting the philosophical stance of questioning or doubting claims. The word reflects a logical progression from literal examination to abstract skepticism.
His scepticism about the new policy made him demand more evidence.
Scientific scepticism is essential to avoid accepting false claims.
Her scepticism faded after seeing the experimental results.
The philosopher’s scepticism challenged traditional beliefs.
Public scepticism grew as the scandal unfolded.