structuralism

[ struhk-cher-uh-liz-uhm ]

/ ˈstrʌk tʃər əˌlɪz əm /

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noun

any theory that embodiesstructural principles.

structural anthropology.

structural linguistics.

structural psychology.

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Origin of structuralism

First recorded in 1945–50; structural + -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM structuralism

struc·tur·al·ist, noun, adjectivestruc·tur·al·is·tic, adjectivean·ti·struc·tur·al·ist, noun, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

British Dictionary definitions for structuralism

structuralism

/ (ˈstrʌktʃərəˌlɪzəm) /

noun

an approach to anthropology and other social sciences and to literature that interprets and analyses its material in terms of oppositions, contrasts, and hierarchical structures, esp as they might reflect universal mental characteristics or organizing principlesCompare functionalism

an approach to linguistics that analyses and describes the structure of language, as distinguished from its comparative and historical aspects

Derived forms of structuralism

structuralist, noun, adjective

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