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revivalism

American  
[ri-vahy-vuh-liz-uhm] / rɪˈvaɪ vəˌlɪz əm /

noun

  1. the form of religious activity that manifests itself in revivals.

  2. the tendency to revive what belongs to the past.


revivalism British  
/ rɪˈvaɪvəˌlɪzəm /

noun

  1. a movement, esp an evangelical Christian one, that seeks to reawaken faith

  2. the tendency or desire to revive former customs, styles, etc

"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

Etymology

Origin of revivalism

First recorded in 1805–15; revival + -ism


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.

See Examples For:

Protestant religious revivalism swept across the country during the first few decades of the 19th century in what was known as the Second Great Awakening.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026

The Grammys like to reward longevity, but maybe they'll be swayed by Rodrigo's rock revivalism, which has helped to ignite the first resurgence in guitar music in over a decade.

From BBC ● Feb. 3, 2024

With “Gold-Diggers Sound,” Bridges leaves behind the mannered late-’50s/early-’60s revivalism of his early music, which garnered countless comparisons to Sam Cooke, in favor of a more modern, freewheeling approach.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2021

Even Alberta Ferretti, with her unapologetic ode to ’80s and ’90s revivalism in the form of shoulder pads! and high-waist pleated leather pants! and gold chains à go-go!, was creating a character.

From New York Times ● Feb. 20, 2020

This was the second great period of revivalism in New England.

From Unitarianism in America by George Willis Cooke

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