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

As Barry Seldes’ magnificent 2009 biography reveals, Bernstein was consistently willing to build bridges between political causes many considered unbridgeable: between universalism and particularism, conflict and consensus, moderation and radicalism.

From Slate • Dec. 13, 2021

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

From The New Yorker • Nov. 11, 2019

But at this moment, right in the middle of a sentence describing her personal belief in moral particularism, Bell is stumped by something she can’t explain.

From The Guardian • Sep. 26, 2018

Over time, elision became neglect: Partial articulations of a world of peoples were conflated with the very toxic particularism they had been created to realistically combat.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2018

But this fundamental catholic principle, in its sharp opposition to Jewish particularism, was not accepted without a struggle at every point.

From St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans, Vol. II A Practical Exposition by Gore, Charles