particularism

American  

[per-tik-yuh-luh-riz-uhm, puh-tik-] / pərˈtɪk yə ləˌrɪz əm, pəˈtɪk- /

noun

1. exclusive attention or devotion to one's own particular interests, party, etc.

2. the principle of leaving each state of a federation free to retain its laws and promote its interests.

3. Theology.  the doctrine that divine grace is provided only for the elect.

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particularism British  

/ pəˈtɪkjʊləˌrɪzəm /

noun

1. exclusive attachment to the interests of one group, class, sect, etc, esp at the expense of the community as a whole

2. the principle of permitting each state or minority in a federation the right to further its own interests or retain its own laws, traditions, etc

3. theol the doctrine that divine grace is restricted to the elect

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Other Word Forms

• particularist noun
• particularistic adjective
• particularistically adverb

Etymology

Origin of particularism

From the French word particularisme, dating back to 1815–25. See particular, -ism

Example Sentences

“They are very much inherently universalists in a world where Judaism calls for particularism. They are figuring out how to navigate this. They’re comfortable in the space of ‘yes — and.’”

From Washington Post

That sort of particularism is anathema to the modern left — and quite properly so, they’d argue; an “us vs. them” mentality is responsible for most of the evils of the world.

From Washington Post

Astonishingly, Gordis reduces the Palestinian question to a footnote in which he grants that the arguments he makes about particularism also justify Palestinian nationalism, then declares such a discussion outside his purview.

From New York Times

Her sense of humor has a rooted particularism, and her comic timing is sharp.

From The New Yorker

Their stories precisely anticipate the tension today’s Jewish liberals experience trying to reconcile their own pro-Israel particularism and their social-justice universalism.

From New York Times