Dis/be-lief′, n.

n. [Prefix dis and belief, q. v.] 1. The act of disbelieving; refusal of credit; denial of belief. Our belief or disbelief of a thing does not alter the nature of the thing. Tillotson. 2. A system of error. Nugatory disbeliefs wound off and done with. I. Taylor. Syn.—Distrust; unbelief; skepticism.—DISBELIEF, UNBELIEF. Unbelief is a mere failure to admit; disbelief is a positive rejection. One may be an unbeliever in Christianity from ignorance or want of inquiry; a disbeliever has the proofs before him, and incurs the guilt of setting them aside. Unbelief is usually open to conviction; disbelief is already convinced as to the falsity of that which it rejects. Men often tell a story in such a manner that we regard every thing they say with unbelief. Familiarity with the worst parts of human nature often leads us into a disbelief in many good qualities which really exist among men.