total depravity

American  

noun

1. the Calvinist doctrine that humankind's entire nature, including its reason, is corrupt or sinful as a result of the Fall and that people are therefore completely dependent on God for regeneration.

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total depravity British  

noun

1. Calvinist the doctrine that man's nature is totally corrupt as a result of the Fall

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Etymology

Origin of total depravity

First recorded in 1785–95

Example Sentences

It’s just hard to believe that it steered a slightly crooked, often endearing and largehearted man into total depravity.

From New York Times • Jul. 18, 2022

But obviously being raised with the doctrine of total depravity, which Calvinists believe in—once you’re raised that way, you tend to feel guilty.

From Slate • Jun. 13, 2018

Dancing was total depravity to Picasso, who was otherwise unbothered by convention.

From Time Magazine Archive

On looking back on the earlier periods of my life, I first see proofs that the orthodox doctrine of original sin, or of natural total depravity, is a falsehood.

From Ancient and Modern Celebrated Freethinkers Reprinted From an English Work, Entitled "Half-Hours With The Freethinkers." by Bradlaugh, Charles

In speaking of the fall of man, we necessarily anticipated somewhat the doctrine of total depravity.

From Orthodoxy: Its Truths And Errors by Clarke, James Freeman