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View synonyms for pluralism

pluralism

[ ploor-uh-liz-uhm ]

noun

  1. Philosophy.
    1. a theory that there is more than one basic substance or principle. Compare dualism ( def 2 ), monism ( def 1a ).
    2. a theory that reality consists of two or more independent elements.
  2. Ecclesiastical.
    1. the holding by one person of two or more offices at the same time.
  3. Sociology. cultural pluralism.
  4. state or quality of being plural.


pluralism

/ ˈplʊərəˌlɪzəm /

noun

  1. the holding by a single person of more than one ecclesiastical benefice or office
  2. sociol a theory of society as several autonomous but interdependent groups which either share power or continuously compete for power
  3. the existence in a society of groups having distinctive ethnic origin, cultural forms, religions, etc
  4. a theory that views the power of employers as being balanced by the power of trade unions in industrial relations such that the interests of both sides can be catered for
  5. philosophy
    1. the metaphysical doctrine that reality consists of more than two basic types of substance Compare monism dualism
    2. the metaphysical doctrine that reality consists of independent entities rather than one unchanging whole Compare monism absolutism
“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


pluralism

  1. A conviction that various religious, ethnic, racial, and political groups should be allowed to thrive in a single society. In metaphysics , pluralism can also mean an alternative to dualism and monism . A pluralist asserts that there are more than two kinds of principles, whereas the dualist maintains there are only two and a monist only one.


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Derived Forms

  • ˈpluralist, nounadjective
  • ˌpluralˈistic, adjective
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Other Words From

  • plu·ral·ist noun adjective
  • plu·ral·is·tic [pl, oo, r-, uh, -, lis, -tik], adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of pluralism1

First recorded in 1810–20; plural + -ism
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Example Sentences

It is meant to suggest a kind of pluralism in the chambers of power in Moscow, with rival camps of liberals and hawks, oligarchs and generals, pulling the President toward fringe positions, which his decisions balance out.

From Time

Climate justice needs to be a key facet of the turn toward pluralism in civics and history education.

Space provided a means of thinking about the challenge of pluralism and the promise of bestowing universal rights because, after all, nobody is more alien than a space alien.

To make this work, accepting pluralism must be the rule, imposing national uniformity the exception.

Not only is he wrong—but the true patriots are the ones standing up for pluralism in America.

All this makes the pluralism of the modern world a scary, unwelcoming place.

Rent regulation promises true pluralism, an ideal in which the multilingual Needelman has a deeply personal stake.

Except for the two-state solution, the only issue that reliably drew applause was religious pluralism in Israel.

Would liberals (not to mention what's left of Jewry) in Italy argue that the petitioners furthered "pluralism"?

Was there not a law against this kind of pluralism, tacitly agreed upon by critics, and applied by them with remorseless rigour?

Pluralism, not monism, is the fashion of the day, and some carry it almost to polytheism.

This kind of pluralism is of course fundamentally incompatible with the presuppositions of my paper.

Pluralism is well ordained in present political practice and demands a modification of hierarchical and monistic theory.

Pluralism, nepotism, simony and all the other ancient abuses were more rampant than ever.

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