uniformitarian

[ yoo-nuh-fawr-mi-tair-ee-uh n ]

/ ˌyu nəˌfɔr mɪˈtɛər i ən /

adjective

supporting, conforming to, or derived from a theory or doctrine about uniformity, especially on the subject of geology.

Geology. of or relating to the thesis that processes that operated in the remote geological past are not different from those observed now.

noun

a person who accepts or supports a uniformitarian theory.

Nearby words

uniform, uniform business rate, uniform crime report, uniform resource locator, uniformed, uniformitarian, uniformitarianism, uniformity, uniformize, unify, uniglandular

Origin of uniformitarian

First recorded in 1830–40; uniformit(y) + -arian

Related forms

u·ni·form·i·tar·i·an·ism, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for uniformitarianism

So far as the not-living world is concerned, uniformitarianism lies there, not only in germ, but in blossom and fruit.
Aphorisms and Reflections from the Works of T. H. Huxley|T. H. Huxley
This is the true "uniformitarianism" of geology which holds to the dominion of existing causes from the first.
Facts and fancies in modern science|John William Dawson
To my mind there appears to be no sort of necessary theoretical antagonism between Catastrophism and Uniformitarianism.
Aphorisms and Reflections from the Works of T. H. Huxley|T. H. Huxley
On first thought it might seem that such lawless movement was rather in keeping with catastrophism than uniformitarianism.
Appletons' Popular Science Monthly, February 1900|Various

Catastrophism and uniformitarianism are opposite extremes which must be combined and reconciled.
Appletons' Popular Science Monthly, February 1900|Various

British Dictionary definitions for uniformitarianism (1 of 2)

uniformitarianism

/ (ˌjuːnɪˌfɔːmɪˈtɛərɪəˌnɪzəm) /

noun

the concept that the earth's surface was shaped in the past by gradual processes, such as erosion, and by small sudden changes, such as earthquakes, of the type acting today rather than by the sudden divine acts, such as the flood survived by Noah (Genesis 6–8), demanded by the doctrine of catastrophism

British Dictionary definitions for uniformitarianism (2 of 2)

uniformitarian

/ (ˌjuːnɪˌfɔːmɪˈtɛərɪən) /

adjective

of or relating to uniformitarianism

of, characterized by, or conforming to uniformity

noun

a supporter of a theory of uniformity or of uniformitarianism

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

Science definitions for uniformitarianism

uniformitarianism

[ yōō′nə-fôr′mĭ-târ′ē-ə-nĭz′əm ]

The theory that all geologic phenomena may be explained as the result of existing forces having operated uniformly from the origin of the Earth to the present time. See Note at Lyell.