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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

Other Word Forms

  • Occamism noun
  • Occamist noun
  • Occamistic adjective
  • Occamite noun

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.

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

Towards the time of the brave Occam and the intrepid Scott, a much more serious quarrel arose, into which the reverend father Cordeliers inveigled all the Christian world.

From A Philosophical Dictionary, Volume 10 (of 10) From "The Works of Voltaire - A Contemporary Version" by Fran?ois-Marie Arouet (AKA Voltaire)