pluralistic
Americanadjective
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Philosophy. of or relating to pluralism, the theory that there is more than one basic substance or principle.
A pluralistic account of the nature of truth needs to look at truth in a specific domain, as opposed to what constitutes truth per se.
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Sociology. of or relating to cultural pluralism, the doctrine that society benefits from minority groups participating fully in the dominant society while maintaining their cultural differences.
The building of pluralistic and democratic societies relies on creating spaces within which respectful and purposeful intercultural and interreligious dialogues can take place.
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allowing for different ideas, methods, etc., or made up of differing elements.
The school encourages pluralistic approaches to learning, allowing individuals to follow their own personal strengths and learning styles.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pluralistic
pluralist + -ic
Explanation
Anything pluralistic involves a diversity of different ideas or people. A pluralistic society is a diverse one, where the people in it believe all kinds of different things and tolerate each other’s beliefs even when they don’t match their own. You know how the plural form of a word means there's more than one of something? Similarly, pluralistic ideas are about embracing more than one group of people, ideas, or religions. A pluralistic approach to politics embraces many different philosophies, such as capitalism and socialism. A pluralistic society accepts many different sorts of people, from different races, sexual orientations, cultures, and religions. Pluralistic ideas are part of a philosophy known as pluralism.
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.
Pluralistic means more than just reflecting multiple group interests.
From Salon • Jul. 15, 2018
Pluralistic ignorance and the perpetuation of social norms among unwitting actors.
From Scientific American • Sep. 8, 2015
"I'm in a Teaching in a Pluralistic Society class," says InterVarsity member Jennifer Beach, 19, a physical-education major.
From Time Magazine Archive
Pluralistic empiricism knows that everything is in an environment, a surrounding world of other things, and that if you leave it to work there it will inevitably meet with friction and opposition from its neighbors.
From A Pluralistic Universe Hibbert Lectures at Manchester College on the Present Situation in Philosophy by James, William
Pluralistic and quarrelsome animism has become monistic and harmonious spiritism.
From Creative Intelligence Essays in the Pragmatic Attitude by Bode, Boyd H.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
