idiographic

American

[id-ee-uh-graf-ik] / ˌɪd i əˈgræf ɪk /

adjective

Psychology.

pertaining to or involving the study or explication of individual cases or events (nomothetic ).

idiographic British

/ ˌɪdɪəʊˈɡræfɪk /

adjective

psychol of or relating to the study of individuals Compare nomothetic

"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

Etymology

Origin of idiographic

First recorded in 1905–10; idio- + -graphic

Compare meaning

How does idiographic compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

idiographic vs. nomothetic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But Berlin noted that knowledge can be nomothetic or idiographic.

From Scientific American

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023