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.

Nearby words

catastasis, catastrophe, catastrophe theory, catastrophic, catastrophic reaction, catastrophism, catastrophize, catatonia, catatonic, catatonic rigidity, catatonic schizophrenia

Origin of catastrophism

First recorded in 1865–70; catastrophe + -ism

Related formsca·tas·tro·phist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for catastrophism

On first thought it might seem that such lawless movement was rather in keeping with catastrophism than uniformitarianism.
Appletons' Popular Science Monthly, February 1900|Various
Catastrophism and uniformitarianism are opposite extremes which must be combined and reconciled.
Appletons' Popular Science Monthly, February 1900|Various
But, in revulsion from the previous idea of catastrophism, it undoubtedly was pushed much too far.
Appletons' Popular Science Monthly, February 1900|Various
This view is a complete reconciliation of catastrophism and uniformitarianism, and is far more rational than either extreme.
Appletons' Popular Science Monthly, Vol. 56, March 1900|Various

Catastrophism, a short-sighted teleology, and a still more short-sighted orthodoxy, joined forces to crush evolution.
The Advance of Science in the Last Half-Century|T.H. (Thomas Henry) Huxley

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 catastrophesCompare uniformitarianism, gradualism (def. 2)

Derived Formscatastrophist, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for catastrophism

catastrophism

as a geological or biological theory, 1869, coined by Huxley from catastrophe + -ism.

By CATASTROPHISM I mean any form of geological speculation which, in order to account for the phenomena of geology, supposes the operation of forces different in their nature, or immeasurably different in power, from those which we at present see in action in the universe. [T.H. Huxley, "Address" to the Geological Society of London, Feb. 19, 1869]

Related: Catastrophist.

Culture definitions for catastrophism

catastrophism

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

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

Note

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