structuralism

[ struhk-cher-uh-liz-uh m ]

/ ˈstrʌk tʃər əˌlɪz əm /

noun

any theory that embodies structural principles.

Nearby words

structural isomerism, structural linguistics, structural psychology, structural steel, structural unemployment, structuralism, structuralist, structuralize, structurally, structure, structured

Origin of structuralism

First recorded in 1945–50; structural + -ism

Related forms

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. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for structuralist

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

structuralist, noun, adjective

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