scepticus

Scepticus is a Latin adjective meaning “skeptical” or “a skeptic.” In English, the related noun sceptic (British spelling) or skeptic (American spelling) denotes a person who questions asserted knowledge or withholds belief without adequate evidence. The term derives from Latin scepticus, which in turn comes from Greek skeptikos, meaning “able to look carefully, wary,” from skepsis “investigation” and skopein “to look at.” The Latin form was used in medieval and early modern writing to translate Greek terms for schools of thought that doubted or suspended judgment.

In philosophy, skepticism is a family of doctrines that challenge the possibility of certain knowledge. Ancient strands include Pyrrhonism and Academic skepticism; later developments include Cartesian doubt and various forms of scientific skepticism. A person who adheres to or promotes such views may be called a sceptic or skeptic. The term is also used more loosely to describe a cautious attitude toward extraordinary claims or to denote a stance that prioritizes evidence and critical scrutiny.

In contemporary usage, “sceptical” often connotes demanding evidence and applying doubt to unverified propositions. The word appears across academic discourse, science communication, journalism, and everyday speech as a descriptor of critical thinking, methodological doubt, or reluctance to accept claims without adequate justification. See also: Skepticism, Pyrrho, Sextus Empiricus, Academic skepticism.