DEFINITIONS

primitivism

[ prim-i-ti-viz-uh m ]
/ ˈprɪm ɪ tɪˌvɪz əm /

noun

a recurrent theory or belief, as in philosophy or art, that the qualities of primitive or chronologically early cultures are superior to those of contemporary civilization.
the state of being primitive: the primitivism of the Stone Age peoples.
the qualities or style characterizing primitive art.

Words nearby primitivism

primitive gut, primitive methodist, primitive node, primitive polynomial, primitive streak, primitivism, primitivo, primo, primo de rivera, primo de rivera y orbaneja, primogenitor

Origin of primitivism

First recorded in 1860–65; primitive + -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM primitivism

prim·i·tiv·ist, nounprim·i·tiv·is·tic, adjectiveun·prim·i·tiv·is·tic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for primitivism

British Dictionary definitions for primitivism

primitivism
/ (ˈprɪmɪtɪˌvɪzəm) /

noun

the condition of being primitive
the notion that the value of primitive cultures is superior to that of the modern world
the principles, characteristics, etc, of primitive art and artists

Derived forms of primitivism

primitivist, noun, adjectiveprimitivistic, adjective
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

Culture definitions for primitivism

primitivism

A style of art that attempts to imitate the art of primitive cultures or of children.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.