atheism Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the doctrine or belief that there is no God
    godlessness.
  2. noun a lack of belief in the existence of God or gods

WordNet

A"the*ism noun
Etymology
Cf. F. athéisme. See Atheist.
Definitions
  1. The disbelief or denial of the existence of a God, or supreme intelligent Being.
    Atheism is a ferocious system, that leaves nothing above us to excite awe, nor around us to awaken tenderness. R. Hall.
    Atheism and pantheism are often wrongly confounded. Shipley.
  2. Godlessness.

Webster 1913