catastrophism

American  

[kuh-tas-truh-fiz-uhm] / kəˈtæs trəˌfɪz əm /

noun

Geology.

1. the doctrine that certain vast geological changes in the earth's history were caused by catastrophes rather than gradual evolutionary processes.

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catastrophism British  

/ kəˈtæstrəˌfɪzəm /

noun

1. 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

2. 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 catastrophes Compare uniformitarianism gradualism

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catastrophism Cultural  

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

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Discover More

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

Other Word Forms

• catastrophist noun

Etymology

Origin of catastrophism

First recorded in 1865–70; catastrophe + -ism

Example Sentences

Indeed, the retreat of climate catastrophism has made room for a less strident but more sustainable climate realism, focused on innovation and the commercialization of low-carbon technologies.

From The Wall Street Journal

But by the 1970s, geologists had accepted catastrophism as legitimate.

From Seattle Times

His goal is to steer climate debate between what he considers equally unproductive extremes of “catastrophism” and “techno-optimism.”

From Washington Post

The geological theory known as catastrophism postulated that major features such as the Grand Canyon, Himalayas, etc. had emerged as a result of sudden and violent upheavals.

From Scientific American

"Lots of people are using this kind of catastrophism to argue that there's no point in reducing emissions," he says.

From BBC