representationalism

[ rep-ri-zen-tey-shuh-nl-iz-uhm, -zuhn- ]

/ ˌrɛp rɪ zɛnˈteɪ ʃə nlˌɪz əm, -zən- /

Save This Word!

noun

Also called representative realism. Epistemology. the view that the objects of perception are ideas or sense data that represent external objects, especially the Lockean doctrine that the perceived idea represents exactly the primary qualities of the external object.

Fine Arts. the practice or principle of representing or depicting an object in a recognizable manner, especially the portrayal of the surface characteristics of an object as they appear to the eye.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of representationalism

First recorded in 1895–1900; representational + -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM representationalism

rep·re·sen·ta·tion·al·ist, nounrep·re·sen·ta·tion·al·is·tic, adjective

Words nearby representationalism

reprehensible, reprehension, represent, representation, representational, representationalism, representative, representatives, repress, repressed, represser

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for representationalism

representationalism

representationism

/ (ˌrɛprɪzɛnˈteɪʃənəˌlɪzəm) /

noun

philosophy the doctrine that in perceptions of objects what is before the mind is not the object but a representation of itCompare presentationism, naive realism See also barrier of ideas

fine arts the practice or advocacy of attempting to depict objects, scenes, figures, etc, directly as seen

Derived forms of representationalism

representationalistic, adjectiverepresentationist, noun, 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