skeptical

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Latin scepticus +‎ -al; attested earlier than skeptic.[1] By surface analysis, skeptic +‎ -al.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈskɛptɪkəl/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)

Adjective

skeptical (comparative more skeptical, superlative most skeptical) (American spelling)

  1. Having, or expressing doubt; questioning.
    My teacher was skeptical when I told her my dog ate my homework.
    Tom was skeptical when Paul told him that he saw Bigfoot.
    • 2009 September 12, Xolani1990, quotee, “Brown Lotto trick 'confuses' fans”, in BBC News[1], London: BBC, archived from the original on 14 September 2009:
      I can see why people are so skeptical [sic] about him, but I think he's on to something here.
      The spelling with k is regarded by British organizations such as the BBC as an error.
    • 2012 March–April, Colin Allen, “Do I See What You See?”, in American Scientist[2], volume 100, number 2, archived from the original on 26 April 2012, page 168:
      Numerous experimental tests and other observations have been offered in favor of animal mind reading, and although many scientists are skeptical, others assert that humans are not the only species capable of representing what others do and don’t perceive and know.
  2. Of or relating to philosophical skepticism or the skeptics.

Derived terms

Translations

References

  1. ^ sceptical | skeptical, adj.”, in OED Online , Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.