infidel
infidel Lexical Profile
infidel Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person who does not believe in religion or who adheres to a religion other than one's own (often used disparagingly).
"In medieval chronicles, anyone outside the dominant faith was frequently labeled an infidel."
• adjective
Unbelieving; adhering to a religion other than one's own, or rejecting religion altogether.
"The medieval chronicle described the diplomatic tensions between the local rulers and the neighboring infidel nations."
Word Nuance & Usage
"Infidel" is an inherently relative and strongly pejorative term whose meaning depends entirely on the speaker's religious perspective; in modern discourse, it is largely restricted to historical contexts or discussions of religious extremism.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 15th century from Middle French infidèle or directly from Latin infidelis ('unfaithful, unbelieving'), formed from the privative prefix in- ('not') and fidelis ('faithful'), from fides ('faith, trust').