atomism

[ at-uh-miz-uh m ]
/ ˈæt əˌmɪz əm /

noun

Also called atomic theory. Philosophy. the theory that minute, discrete, finite, and indivisible elements are the ultimate constituents of all matter.
Psychology. a method or theory that reduces all psychological phenomena to simple elements.

Origin of atomism

First recorded in 1670–80

OTHER WORDS FROM atomism

at·om·ist, noun at·om·is·tic, at·om·is·ti·cal, adjective at·om·is·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby atomism

atomic veteran, atomic volume, atomic weight, atomicity, atomics, atomism, atomize, atomizer, atomy, aton, atonal

Example sentences from the Web for atomism

British Dictionary definitions for atomism

atomism
/ (ˈætəˌmɪzəm) /

noun

an ancient philosophical theory, developed by Democritus and expounded by Lucretius, that the ultimate constituents of the universe are atoms See atom (def. 3)
  1. any of a number of theories that hold that some objects or phenomena can be explained as constructed out of a small number of distinct types of simple indivisible entities
  2. any theory that holds that an understanding of the parts is logically prior to an understanding of the wholeCompare holism (def. 3)
psychol the theory that experiences and mental states are composed of elementary units

Derived forms of atomism

atomist, noun, adjective atomistic or atomistical, adjective atomistically, adverb