Origin: Greek gnst(os), variant of gntos not known, incapable of being known (a- a-6 + gnts known, adj. derivative from base of gignskein to know) + -ic, after gnostic; said to have been coined by T.H. Huxley in 1869 Related forms

agnostically, adverb

Synonym Study Agnostic, atheist, infidel, skeptic refer to persons not inclined toward religious belief or a particular form of religious belief. An agnostic is one who believes it impossible to know anything about God or about the creation of the universe and refrains from commitment to any religious doctrine. An atheist is one who denies the existence of a deity or of divine beings. Infidel means an unbeliever, especially a nonbeliever in Islam or Christianity. A skeptic doubts and is critical of all accepted doctrines and creeds.

Word story The word agnostic was coined by the English biologist T.H. Huxley in the late 1860s as a member of the now defunct Metaphysical Society, in response to what he perceived as an abundance there of strongly held beliefs. The original usage of the term was confined to philosophy and religion, and referred to Huxley's assertion that anything beyond the material world, including the existence and nature of God, was unknowable. Today the word can be seen applied to questions of politics, culture, and science, as when someone claims to be a political agnostic. In a more recent trend, one can be agnostic simply by not taking a stand on something. In 2010, President Obama called himself agnostic on tax cuts until he had seen all available options. At a forum on sustainable energy in 2008, GE CEO Jeff Immelt said he was fuel agnostic fundamentally. In technology, software or hardware can be said to be agnostic as well. Computer code that can run on any operating system is called platform agnostic, and such services as phone and electric may be considered agnostic if not dedicated to a particular carrier, device, or user interface.

Popular references Agnostic Front: A New York punk band, considered at the forefront of the New York hardcore music scene. Founded in 1983, in existence for over 25 years.

It [agnostic] came into my head as suggestively antithetic to the gnostic of Church history who professed to know so much. T. H. Huxley, Agnosticism Collected Essays, Volume V; Science and Christian Tradition: Essays (1894)

In theory he [Prof. Huxley] is a great and even severe Agnostic,who goes about exhorting all men to know how little they know. R. H. Hutton, Spectator (January 29, 1870)

Militant Agnostic: I don't know, and you don't either Bumper sticker, Northern Sun (Accessed 2010)

Melville is a political agnostic in Billy Buddhe doesn't know with finalitynot because he is indifferent, but because he sees too much. Robert Midler, Exiled Royalties: Melville and the Life We Imagine (2006)

The whole point of it is to make sure that all ideas are on the tableSo what I want to do is to be completely agnostic, in terms of solutions. President Barack Obama, Obama Agnostic on Deficit Cuts, Won't Prejudge Tax Increases Bloomberg Businessweek by Rich Miller (Feb. 11, 2010)

Go here to read the rest:
Agnostic | What is the Definition of Agnostic ...