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Occam

American  
[ok-uhm] / ˈɒk əm /
Or Ockham

noun

  1. William of, died 1349?, English scholastic philosopher.


Occam British  
/ ˈɒkəm /

noun

  1. a variant spelling of (William of) Ockham

"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

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Example Sentences

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Doctors often invoke the principle of Occam’s razor, articulated by the 14th-century philosopher William of Occam, who posited that the simplest interpretation of any phenomenon is most likely the right one.

From New York Times May 26, 2022

But the fact that the madness got this far must discourage old William of Occam.

From Washington Post Dec. 11, 2020

William of Occam would have hated conspiracy theories.

From Time Oct. 15, 2017

Occam would indicate a different answer: guilt, hypocrisy and betrayal.

From Washington Post Dec. 8, 2014

He takes Nominalistic ground in relation to the old controversy of Nominalist and Realist, siding with Abelard and Roscellin and Occam, and against St. Thomas and Duns Scotus.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 02, No. 08, June 1858 by Various

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