determinism
[ dih-tur-muh-niz-uhm ]
/ dɪˈtɜr məˌnɪz əm /
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noun
the doctrine that all facts and events exemplify natural laws.
the doctrine that all events, including human choices and decisions, have sufficient causes.
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Origin of determinism
First recorded in 1840–50; determin(e) + -ism
OTHER WORDS FROM determinism
de·ter·min·ist, noun, adjectivede·ter·min·is·tic [dih-tur-muh-nis-tik] /dɪˌtɜr məˈnɪs tɪk/ adjectivenon·de·ter·min·ist, noun, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH determinism
determinism , fatalism, necessitarianismDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use determinism in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for determinism
determinism
/ (dɪˈtɜːmɪˌnɪzəm) /
noun
Also called: necessitarianism the philosophical doctrine that all events including human actions and choices are fully determined by preceding events and states of affairs, and so that freedom of choice is illusoryCompare free will (def. 1b)
the scientific doctrine that all occurrences in nature take place in accordance with natural laws
the principle in classical mechanics that the values of dynamic variables of a system and of the forces acting on the system at a given time, completely determine the values of the variables at any later time
Derived forms of determinism
determinist, noun, adjectivedeterministic, adjectiveCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for determinism
determinism
[ dĭ-tûr′mə-nĭz′əm ]
n.
The philosophical doctrine that every event, act, and decision is the inevitable consequence of antecedents, such as genetic and environmental influences, that are independent of the human will.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cultural definitions for determinism
determinism
In ethics, the view that human actions are entirely controlled by previous conditions, operating under laws of nature. Determinism is often understood as ruling out free will.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.