Dictionary

absolutism en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈæb.səˌljuˌtɪz.m̩/ (US)
• /ˈæb.sə.ljuː.tɪz.m̩/ (UK)
• /ˈæb.sə.luː.tɪz.m̩/ (UK)
• (US) audio
• /ˈæb.səˌluˌtɪz.m̩/ (US)

Etymology

First attested in 1753 (in the theological sense); attested in 1830 in the political sense. From absolute + -ism, based after French absolutisme.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) Doctrine of preordination; doctrine of absolute decrees; doctrine that God acts in an absolute manner.
2. (countable, uncountable) The principles or practice of absolute or arbitrary government; Synonym of despotism.
   • As absolutism became more consolidated in Europe, and particularly in France, such nonabsolutist states tended to define themselves in opposition to their absolutist rivals: hence, those features of their government which differed from absolutism tended to be given special prominence. 2019, John Gascoigne, Science and the State, page 54:
   • The element of absolutism and prelacy was more controlling in the counsels of the rival corporation. 1859, John Gorham Palfrey, chapter IV, in History of New England, volume I, page 217:
3. (countable, uncountable) Belief in a metaphysical absolute; belief in Absolute.
4. (countable, uncountable) Positiveness; the state of being absolute.
5. (countable, rare, uncountable) The characteristic of being absolute in nature or scope; absoluteness.
   • It was the absolutism of his ambition to be a perfect writer (and perhaps also the perfect son) that imperiled him. 2003, Ruth R. Wisse, The Modern Jewish Canon: A Journey Through Language, →ISBN:

Forms

Deriveds

nonabsolutism · antiabsolutism · hyperabsolutism

Relateds

strongman · autocracy · dictatorship

Translations (41)

el απόλυτο (the state of being absolute; the system or doctrine of the absolute or unconditional) · mk самодржавие (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · es absolutismo (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · ka აბსოლუტიზმი (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · cs absolutismus (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · nb absolutisme (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · eo absolutismo (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · sh apsolutizam (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · da enevælde (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · pl absolutyzm (belief in a metaphysical absolute) · fi absolutismi (belief in a metaphysical absolute) · el απολυταρχία (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · nb enevelde (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · el απολυτότητα (the state of being absolute; the system or doctrine of the absolute or unconditional) · el απολυτοκρατία (belief in a metaphysical absolute) · sv envälde (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · hu abszolutizmus (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · nn absolutisme (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · sv despotism (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · nl predestinatieleer (theology: doctrine of preordination; doctrine of absolute decrees) · nb absolutisme (belief in a metaphysical absolute) · mhr абсолютизм (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · nl absolutisme (belief in a metaphysical absolute) · id absolutisme (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · ru абсолюти́зм (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · fi absolutismi (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · sv absolutism (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · fr absolutisme (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · de Absolutismus (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · pl absolutyzm (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · da absolutisme (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · ca absolutisme (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · bg абсолюти́зъм (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · hy աբսոլյուտիզմ (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · nl absolutisme (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · mk апсолутизам (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · pt absolutismo (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · nl alleenheerschappij (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · sh апсолутизам (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · it assolutismo (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism) · ro absolutism (political science: absolute or arbitrary government; despotism)