animism

[ an-uh-miz-uhm ]

noun

1. the belief that natural objects, natural phenomena, and the universe itself possess souls.
2. the belief that natural objects have souls that may exist apart from their material bodies.
3. the doctrine that the soul is the principle of life and health.
4. belief in spiritual beings or agencies.

animism

/ ˈænɪˌmɪzəm; ˌænɪˈmɪstɪk /

noun

1. the belief that natural objects, phenomena, and the universe itself have desires and intentions
2. (in the philosophies of Plato and Pythagoras) the hypothesis that there is an immaterial force that animates the universe

animism

¹

1. The belief, common among so-called primitive people, that objects and natural phenomena, such as rivers, rocks, and wind, are alive and have feelings and intentions. Animistic beliefs form the basis of many cults . ( See also fetish and totemism .)

animism

²

1. The belief that natural objects such as rivers and rocks possess a soul or spirit. Anima is the Latin word for “soul” or “spirit.” ( See voodoo .)

Derived Forms

• animistic, adjective
• ˈanimist, noun

Other Words From

• an·i·mist adjective
• an·i·mis·tic [an-, uh, -, mis, -tik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of animism¹

First recorded in 1825–35; anim(a) + -ism

Word History and Origins

Origin of animism¹

C19: from Latin anima vital breath, spirit

Example Sentences

One of the world’s oldest religions, Voodoo originated in the kingdom of Dahomey - present-day Benin - and is rooted in animism, the belief that all things, from rocks and trees to animals and places, have a spirit.

From Washington Times

One of the world’s oldest religions, Voodoo originated in the kingdom of Dahomey — present-day Benin — and is rooted in animism, the belief that all things, from rocks and trees to animals and places, have a spirit.

From Seattle Times

Japan’s Indigenous religion of Shinto is largely rooted in animism, which believes there are thousands of “kami,” or spirits, inhabiting nature.

From Seattle Times

She was most excited by what she describes as the anthropomorphic quality of cars, an animism she still attributes to various consumer goods.

From New York Times

Whether in the dazzling input-output of binary ones and zeroes under the coder's hand, or in the enchanted yarn-spinning wheel of the fairytale weaver, the trade of wordcraft has always had its tools, and they've always come with the danger of the tradesman's own hallucinatory animism.

From Salon