vitalism

[ vahyt-l-iz-uh m ]
/ ˈvaɪt lˌɪz əm /

the doctrine that phenomena are only partly controlled by mechanical forces, and are in some measure self-determining. Compare dynamism(def 1), mechanism(def 8).
Biology. a doctrine that ascribes the functions of a living organism to a vital principle distinct from chemical and physical forces.

Origin of vitalism

First recorded in 1815–25; vital + -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM vitalism

vi·tal·ist, noun, adjective vi·tal·is·tic, adjective vi·tal·is·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby vitalism

vital signs, vital stain, vital staining, vital statistics, vitalian, vitalism, vitality, vitality test, vitalize, vitallium, vitalometer

Example sentences from the Web for vitalism

British Dictionary definitions for vitalism

vitalism
/ (ˈvaɪtəˌlɪzəm) /

noun

the philosophical doctrine that the phenomena of life cannot be explained in purely mechanical terms because there is something immaterial which distinguishes living from inanimate matter Compare dynamism, mechanism

Derived forms of vitalism

vitalist, noun, adjective vitalistic, adjective