nominalism

[ nom-uh-nl-iz-uhm ]

noun

1. (in medieval philosophy) the doctrine that general or abstract words do not stand for objectively existing entities and that universals are no more than names assigned to them. Compare conceptualism, realism ( def 5a ).

nominalism

/ ˈnɒmɪnəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. the philosophical theory that the variety of objects to which a single general word, such as dog, applies have nothing in common but the name Compare conceptualism realism

Derived Forms

• ˈnominalist, nounadjective
• ˌnominalˈistic, adjective

Other Words From

• nomi·nal·ist noun
• nomi·nal·istic adjective
• nomi·nal·isti·cal·ly adverb
• nonnom·i·nal·istic adjective
• unnom·i·nal·istic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nominalism¹

From the French word nominalisme, dating back to 1830–40. See nominal, -ism

Example Sentences

His plan was to make theology plain and simple by founding it on the philosophical principles of nominalism.

From Project Gutenberg

This gives a wrong impression about Nominalism, that it was banned in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.

From Project Gutenberg

Rosmini, in an elaborate criticism, complains that Stewart did not perceive the inevitable tendency of nominalism to materialism.

From Project Gutenberg

Ockham in particular falls very short of what I had expected; and his nominalism is strangely different from that of Berkeley.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus far nominalism triumphs; but now we arrive at the physical sciences, properly so called.

From Project Gutenberg