People who do not believe in something, especially religious faith or a particular religion.
From 'unbelieve' + '-er' suffix. The prefix 'un-' negates 'believers.' The term has been used since the Middle Ages to describe those outside the Christian faith, carrying religious and sometimes judgmental connotations.
The word 'unbeliever' reveals Christianity's historical dominance in English—we don't say 'non-believers' in other contexts (we say 'non-swimmers,' not 'unswimmers'), showing how religious categories shaped language itself.
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