essentialism

American  

[uh-sen-shuh-liz-uhm] / əˈsɛn ʃəˌlɪz əm /

noun

1. Philosophy. a doctrine that the inward, or essential, nature of most things is invariable, as opposed to the properties that are accidental, phenomenal, illusory, etc.

2. Education. a doctrine that certain traditional concepts, ideals, and skills are essential to society and should be taught methodically to all students, regardless of individual ability, need, etc.

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essentialism British  

/ ɪˈsɛnʃəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. philosophy one of a number of related doctrines which hold that there are necessary properties of things, that these are logically prior to the existence of the individuals which instantiate them, and that their classification depends upon their satisfaction of sets of necessary conditions

2. the doctrine that education should concentrate on teaching basic skills and encouraging intellectual self-discipline

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Other Word Forms

• essentialist
  noun

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Etymology

Origin of essentialism

First recorded in 1935–40; essential + -ism

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

essentialism

The cliché applied to contralto voices is “plummy” and Heynis offers its reverse, a sort of lean, emotional essentialism in a deep and beautiful voice.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 2, 2026

The problem with gender essentialism is that even a solitary divergence suggests that the “natural law” is not, in fact, a law.

From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2025

Kwan’s theory of Chinese identity is marked by a similar tinge of essentialism.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 11, 2023

Racial essentialism is absurd, and I think all of us are ready to leave it in the papers of the past.

From New York Times ● Oct. 15, 2021

My psychological makeup doesn’t accord with the essentialism popular in the intersex movement, either.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

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