atomism meaning

UK US

atomism (noun): (psychology) a theory that reduces all mental phenomena to simple elements (sensations and feelings) that form complex ideas by association.

atomism has 2 meanings in this dictionary.

atomism as a noun

  1. (psychology) a theory that reduces all mental phenomena to simple elements (sensations and feelings) that form complex ideas by association

    Type of: scientific theory

    Related forms: atomistical, atomistic

  2. (chemistry) any theory in which all matter is composed of tiny discrete finite indivisible indestructible particles
    • the ancient Greek philosophers Democritus and Epicurus held atomic theories of the universe

    Synonyms: atomic theory, atomist theory, atomistic theory

    Opposite: holism

    Type of: theory

    Related forms: atomistical, atomistic

Scrabble score: 11 (letter breakdown)

Word lists: words starting with AT · words ending in SM · 7-letter words

More about atomism on Wikipedia.