Belief Meaning and Definition
Belief
Pronunciation
/ˈbɛl.jf/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A feeling or opinion that is not based on reason or evidence, but is instead grounded in faith, trust, or emotion.
Examples
- Many people hold the belief that aliens exist.
- Her strong spiritual belief brought her solace during the difficult times.
Synonyms
- Conviction
- Trust
- Faith
Antonyms
- Doubt
- Skepticism
- Agnosticism
Etymology
The word “Belief” originates from Old English “gigliep”, meaning “to think” or “to imagine”, and is closely related to the Latin word “fides”, meaning “faith” or “trust”.
Usage Notes
Belief is often used to describe a deeply held conviction that may not be widely accepted or empirically proven. It can also be used to describe a general feeling of trust or confidence.
Cultural References
The concept of belief has been explored in various cultural and religious contexts, including the works of philosophers such as Immanuel Kant and Jean-Paul Sartre.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
A lot of people have fallen under the influence of false beliefs.
Related Words or Phrases
- Religion
- Morality
- Conscience
Collocations
- Belief system
- Shared belief
- Strong beliefs
Frequency of Use
Belief is a commonly used word in everyday language, with a frequency of approximately 1.24% in written English.
Common Misspellings
- Belife
- Belap
- Belif