animism
noun
the belief that natural objects, natural phenomena, and the universe itself possess souls.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Cordillera mountain region's animist residents adopted Christianity only after Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States in 1898, four centuries after Spanish friars had converted the people of the coasts to Catholicism.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
The syncretic religion that melds Catholicism with animist beliefs has no official leader or creeds.
From Seattle Times ● May 9, 2024
The figure-grazing outfit, in some ways, embodies the syncretic form of Islam that developed in Indonesia, in which an Arabian faith brought by traders blended with animist, Hindu, Buddhist and other influences.
From New York Times ● Jun. 30, 2023
During the 19th century, the newly imperialistic government promoted Shinto, the country’s Indigenous animist tradition, over Buddhism.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 25, 2023
In the animist world, objects and living things are not the only animated beings.
From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari
