syncretism

American  

[sing-kri-tiz-uhm, sin-] / ˈsɪŋ krɪˌtɪz əm, ˈsɪn- /

noun

1. the attempted reconciliation or union of different or opposing principles, practices, or parties, as in philosophy or religion.

2. Grammar. the merging, as by historical change in a language, of two or more categories in a specified environment into one, as, in nonstandard English, the use of was with both singular and plural subjects, while in standard English was is used with singular subjects (except for you in the second person singular) and were with plural subjects.

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syncretism British  

/ sɪŋˈkrɛtɪk, ˈsɪŋkrɪˌtɪzəm /

noun

1. the tendency to syncretize

2. the historical tendency of languages to reduce their use of inflection, as in the development of Old English with all its case endings into Modern English

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Other Word Forms

• syncretic
  adjective
• syncretical
  adjective
• syncretist
  noun
• syncretistic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of syncretism

First recorded in 1610–20; from New Latin syncretismus, from Greek synkrētismós “union of Cretans,” i.e., a united front of two opposing parties against a common foe, derivative of synkrēt(ízein) “to form a confederation” ( see syncretize) + -ismos noun suffix ( see -ism)

Explanation

Syncretism is a union or attempted fusion of different religions, cultures, or philosophies — like Halloween, which has both Christian and pagan roots, or the combination of Aristotelian philosophy with the belief system of the early punk rock practitioners. Syncretism may apply to something whose parts sync well, like salsa dance (a merging combination of African, Latin American, and European cultures), or something whose parts merge less successfully. Syncretism is also a word used for merging different inflection word forms, so that a word can serve more than one function. Examples in English are you, which can be an object or a subject, or pet, which is the same in the past and present tense.

Example Sentences

Isidora is an example of ancient syncretism at work: a Greek woman, painted in a Roman tradition, whose burial followed Egyptian customs of mummification.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

His style on the piano carries the relaxed tension of a man for whom syncretism comes naturally, East and West, sun and sorrow.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2026

Once Islam reached the savanna south of the Sahara, ruling African elites adopted it, and in some cases they blended it with their traditional beliefs, a process called syncretism.

From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022

Mr. Barna, who founded the evangelical Christian polling firm The Barna Group in 1984, said this makes syncretism the most dominant worldview guiding the decisions of Americans today.

From Washington Times • Oct. 20, 2021

In the syncretism of that age, the age of Gnosticism, rites and doctrines passed easily from one system to another.

From Roman Society from Nero to Marcus Aurelius by Dill, Samuel