What does sceptic mean?
Word: Sceptic
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Sceptic means a person who doubts that something is true until they see proof, especially something that many other people believe.
Synonyms: doubter, questioner
How do you spell sceptic?
Syllables: scep - tic
Tricky part: In British spelling the k sound is written sc; the American spelling is skeptic. Take care with septic too: it sounds close, so check which word the sentence needs.
Watch out for: sceptick, sceptik
Memory tip: A sceptic is a scientist at heart: both words start with sc and both want proof before they believe.
Sceptic in a sentence
Example 1: Kiran was a sceptic about the new homework app until it helped him finish his maths in half the time.
Example 2: My uncle is a sceptic who checks every news story before he shares it.
Example 3: Even the sceptics in the audience clapped when the magician's trick worked.
Fun Fact
Sceptic comes from a Greek word for someone who looks carefully and thinks before deciding. British English kept the k sound but writes it with a c.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Twins
Read the two sentences and choose the correct option:
1. The plumber said the septic tank behind the farmhouse needed emptying. 2. My grandfather is a septic who never believes weather forecasts.
a) only 2
b) only 1
c) neither
d) both
Show answer
b) only 1. A septic tank holds waste water, so the doubting grandfather needs sceptic.
Jumble Tumble
What is the meaning of the word that can be formed from the given letters?
piectsc
a) a person who is very fond of sweet food
b) a person who has just started learning a skill
c) a person who wants evidence before believing a claim
d) a person who travels to faraway places
Show answer
c) a person who wants evidence before believing a claim. The letters rearrange to sceptic, someone who wants proof first.
Spellacadabra
Choose the option in which the following letters will fit in the given order:
e, i
a) t__p__c
b) p__cn__c
c) sc__pt__c
d) c__m__c
Show answer
c) sc__pt__c. Topic and comic take o and i, and picnic takes i twice; only one word takes e, then i.
Spell Spies
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) sceptic
b) pesimist
c) critic
d) cynic
Show answer
b) pesimist. Pessimist has a double s in the middle.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Ravi says his new pen helps him write faster. A sceptic friend would most likely ___.
a) tell the whole class it works
b) ask him to time himself with both pens
c) buy ten of those pens at once
d) start using the pen straight away
Show answer
b) ask him to time himself with both pens
2. The opposite of a sceptic is someone who ___.
a) travels a great deal
b) works very hard
c) rarely speaks at all
d) believes things easily
Show answer
d) believes things easily
