Definition of "skeptic" [skep•tic]

• One who instinctively or habitually doubts, questions, or disagrees with assertions or generally accepted conclusions. (noun)
• One inclined to skepticism in religious matters. (noun)
• Philosophy An adherent of a school of skepticism. (noun)
• Philosophy A member of an ancient Greek school of skepticism, especially that of Pyrrho of Elis (360?-272? B.C.). (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Actually, the label skeptic gets applied with a rather broad brush in the rather vitriolic discussions at climate blogs."
• "My question to Judith is how and why is the term skeptic hardly ever used anymore and only the perjorative term “denialist” used instead?"
• "Next, putting quotation marks around the term skeptic is an ad-hom attempt to play the skeptic card."