Dictionary

naturalism en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈnatʃ(ə)rəlɪz(ə)m/

Etymology

From natural + -ism. Compare French naturalisme.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) A state of nature; conformity to nature.
2. (countable, uncountable) The doctrine that denies a supernatural agency in the miracles and revelations recorded in religious texts and in spiritual influences.
3. (countable, uncountable) Any system of philosophy which refers the phenomena of nature as a blind force or forces acting necessarily or according to fixed laws, excluding origination or direction by a will.
4. (countable, uncountable) A doctrine which denies a strong separation between scientific and philosophic methodologies and/or topics
5. (countable, uncountable) A movement in theatre, film, and literature that seeks to replicate a believable everyday reality, as opposed to such movements as romanticism, surrealism, or abstract art, in which subjects may receive highly symbolic or idealistic treatment.
   • More perfect than all in design and technique is a relief of a goat suckling her young, characterised, as it is, not only by naturalism, but also, as Mr. Evans claims, "by a certain ideal dignity and balance." 1907, Ronald M. Burrows, The Discoveries In Crete, page 21:
6. (countable, nonstandard, uncountable) naturism, nudism, social nudity.
   • "In the early 1950s, naturalism was seriously studied by the U.S. military, the concept being that exercising in the nude, as the ancient Greek generals did, was good for both the body and the mind," Seacrest reveals. 3 December 2002, Corey Michaels, “Area 51 Shocker”, in Weekly World News:
   • Besides progressive trends from the West, defenders of naturalism also called attention to "primitive" minorities who, like innocent children, were construed as effortless practitioners of naturalism with physical strength and beauty. 2013, Yunxiang Gao, Sporting Gender: Women Athletes and Celebrity-Making during China's National Crisis, 1931–45:
   • In most of the world nudity is prohibited. Where it is not, such as where "Nudism" and "Naturalism" prevails, it is usually the main thing going on. 2002, Ishvara, Oneness in Living: Kundalini Yoga, the Spiritual Path, and the Intentional Community, page 133:
7. (countable, uncountable) The belief in natural law.

Forms

Deriveds

hypernaturalism · metaphysical naturalism · supranaturalism · spiritual naturalism · religious naturalism · antinaturalism · nonnaturalism

Relateds

naturalist

Translations (19)

da naturalisme (a state of nature; conformity to nature) · es naturalismo (a state of nature; conformity to nature) · cs naturalismus (a state of nature; conformity to nature) · el φυσιοκρατία (a state of nature; conformity to nature) · nl naturalisme (a state of nature; conformity to nature) · el φυσισμός (a state of nature; conformity to nature) · fi naturalismi (a state of nature; conformity to nature) · ab анатурализм (a state of nature; conformity to nature) · ru натурали́зм (a state of nature; conformity to nature) · nn naturalisme (a state of nature; conformity to nature) · nb naturalisme (a state of nature; conformity to nature) · is natúralismi (a state of nature; conformity to nature) · pl naturalizm (a state of nature; conformity to nature) · pt naturalismo (a state of nature; conformity to nature) · it naturalismo (a state of nature; conformity to nature) · io naturalismo (a state of nature; conformity to nature) · vo natim (a state of nature; conformity to nature) · ro naturalism (a state of nature; conformity to nature) · hu naturalizmus (a state of nature; conformity to nature)