structuralism

[ struhk-cher-uh-liz-uhm ]

noun

1. any theory that embodies structural principles.
2. structural anthropology.
3. structural linguistics.
4. structural psychology.

structuralism

/ ˈstrʌktʃərəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. an approach to anthropology and other social sciences and to literature that interprets and analyses its material in terms of oppositions, contrasts, and hierarchical structures, esp as they might reflect universal mental characteristics or organizing principles Compare functionalism
2. an approach to linguistics that analyses and describes the structure of language, as distinguished from its comparative and historical aspects

Derived Forms

• ˈstructuralist, nounadjective

Other Words From

• structur·al·ist noun adjective
• structur·al·istic adjective
• anti·structur·al·ist noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of structuralism¹

First recorded in 1945–50; structural + -ism

Example Sentences

The teacher was explaining how critical race theory works, Byard said, as one of several theories studied including structuralism, deconstructionism and feminism.

From Washington Post

"Other theories such as structuralism, deconstructionism, and feminism were also shared."

From Fox News

“I think I was very ill-equipped to take on structuralism and deconstruction and French critical theory,” she explained.

From New York Times

I could feel synapses firing as I grappled with Thomas Hobbes, literary structuralism, German expressionism and the ego and the id.

From Washington Post

French philosophy, which taught the world to reason with sweeping and bold systems such as rationalism, republicanism, feminism, positivism, existentialism and structuralism, has had conspicuously little to offer in recent decades.

From The Guardian