catastrophism

[ kuh-tas-truh-fiz-uh m ]
/ kəˈtæs trəˌfɪz əm /

noun Geology.

the doctrine that certain vast geological changes in the earth's history were caused by catastrophes rather than gradual evolutionary processes.

Origin of catastrophism

First recorded in 1865–70; catastrophe + -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM catastrophism

ca·tas·tro·phist, noun

Example sentences from the Web for catastrophism

British Dictionary definitions for catastrophism

catastrophism
/ (kəˈtæstrəˌfɪzəm) /

noun

an old doctrine, now discarded, that the earth was created and has subsequently been shaped by sudden divine acts which have no logical connection with each other rather than by gradual evolutionary processes
Also called: neo-catastrophism a modern doctrine that the gradual evolutionary processes shaping the earth have been supplemented in the past by the effects of huge natural catastrophes Compare uniformitarianism, gradualism (def. 2)

Derived forms of catastrophism

catastrophist, noun

Cultural definitions for catastrophism

catastrophism
[ (kuh-tas-truh-fiz-uhm) ]

A theory holding that changes in the Earth take place swiftly and irreversibly. (Contrast gradualism.)

notes for catastrophism

A belief in Noah's flood is one version of catastrophism.