cultural determinism

[ kuhl-cher-uhl di-tur-muh-niz-uhm ]

noun

1. Sociology. the doctrine that considers cultural conditions to be the determining factor in the development of an individual, society, or nation. Compare biological determinism ( def ), economic determinism ( def ), environmental determinism ( def 1 ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of cultural determinism¹

First recorded in 1870–75