catastrophism

[kuh-tas-truh-fiz-uh m]

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

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

Historical Examples of catastrophism

Catastrophism is a corollary of it: if there were no imperfection there could be no advance.
The Unpopular Review, Number 19
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
But, in revulsion from the previous idea of catastrophism, it undoubtedly was pushed much too far.
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
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

British Dictionary definitions for catastrophism

catastrophism

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

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.

catastrophism in Culture

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.