Definition of "skepticism" []

• A doubting or questioning attitude or state of mind; dubiety. See Synonyms at uncertainty. (noun)
• Philosophy The ancient school of Pyrrho of Elis that stressed the uncertainty of our beliefs in order to oppose dogmatism. (noun)
• Philosophy The doctrine that absolute knowledge is impossible, either in a particular domain or in general. (noun)
• Philosophy A methodology based on an assumption of doubt with the aim of acquiring approximate or relative certainty. (noun)
• Doubt or disbelief of religious tenets. (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.

• "The poll indicates that the rise in skepticism is mostly due to a shift among Republicans and independents."
• "I am taking your use of the term skepticism literally and not interpreting it as veiled anti-environmentalism."
• ""I guess the word skepticism would be in order at this time as to what may or may not happen in those discussions," Mr. Panetta told reporters in Seoul, where he met on Thursday with the South Korean president, Lee Myung-bak."