mécréant

unbeliever, infidel

noun meh-kreh-AHN Rare

Origin: From Old French 'mescreant' (miscreant), from Latin 'credere' (to believe).

Also means

rogue, scoundrel (informal)

Usage Note

Mécréant historically denoted someone who did not share the dominant Christian faith; today it can be used lightly or ironically to mean a rascal or irreverent person. The feminine form is mécréante. The English word 'miscreant' shares the same etymological root but has shifted in meaning differently.

Examples

"Il traite cet artiste de mécréant."

Natural Translation

He calls this artist an unbeliever.

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