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telesis

American  
[tel-uh-sis] / ˈtɛl ə sɪs /

noun

Sociology.

  1. deliberate, purposeful utilization of the processes of nature and society to obtain particular goals.

telesis British  
/ ˈtɛlɪsɪs /

noun

  1. the purposeful use of natural and social processes to obtain specific social goals

"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 telesis

First recorded in 1895–1900, telesis is from the Greek word télesis completion

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.

Restriction of competition is synonymous with limitation of movement, acquiescence in control, and telesis, Ward's term for changes ordained by society in distinction from the natural process of change.

From Introduction to the Science of Sociology by Park, Robert Ezra

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.