structuralism
[ struhk-cher-uh-liz-uh m ]
/ ˈstrʌk tʃər əˌlɪz əm /
noun
any theory that embodies structural principles.
Origin of structuralism
First recorded in 1945–50;
structural +
-ism
OTHER WORDS FROM structuralism
struc·tur·al·ist, noun, adjective struc·tur·al·is·tic, adjective an·ti·struc·tur·al·ist, noun, adjectiveWords nearby structuralism
British Dictionary definitions for structuralist
structuralism
/ (ˈstrʌktʃərəˌlɪzəm) /
noun
an approach to anthropology and other social sciences and to literature that interprets and analyses its material in terms of oppositions, contrasts, and hierarchical structures, esp as they might reflect universal mental characteristics or organizing principles
Compare functionalism
an approach to linguistics that analyses and describes the structure of language, as distinguished from its comparative and historical aspects