How to say "atheism" in Japanese

• 無神論むしんろんCommon
  nounThe direct, common word for atheism as the view that there is no god; the word to reach for in discussions of religion, philosophy, or one's own beliefs.
  ソクラテスは主神しゅしんゼウスを信しんじなかったので無神論むしんろんの罪つみに問とわれた。↗

  Socrates was accused of atheism because he did not believe in Zeus.
• 無信むしん
  noun, na-adjectiveLess common; centers on irreligion or lack of faith rather than a considered denial of God's existence, so it is seldom the word you want for atheism proper.
• 無信仰むしんこう
  noun, na-adjectiveNames the state of having no religion rather than the doctrine that no god exists; when you mean atheism in that doctrinal sense, 無神論 is the precise term.
• 無信心むしんじん
  noun, na-adjectiveA less common word spanning irreligion, unbelief, and even the atheist as a person; for the doctrine of atheism itself it is rarely the right pick — 無神論 is clearer.

Use 無神論 for atheism as the position that no god exists; the other three, all less common, center on absence of faith or religion, and only loosely extend to atheism.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 無神論むしんろんatheism
• 無信むしんirreligion
• 無信仰むしんこうlack of religion
• 無信心むしんじんirreligion