dynamism
Americannoun
-
any of various theories or philosophical systems that seek to explain phenomena of nature by the action of force.
-
great energy, force, or power; vigor.
the dynamism of the new governor.
-
Psychology. a habitual mode of reducing or eliminating tension.
noun
Other Word Forms
- dynamist noun
- dynamistic adjective
Etymology
Origin of dynamism
First recorded in 1825–35; dynam- ( def. ) + -ism
Explanation
Anything that's healthy, active, and vigorous has dynamism. Your pet turtle's dynamism is really amazing — I don't think I've ever seen one move so fast! Dynamism can be a quality of making great progress or being successful, so you might refer to the dynamism of your lemonade stand, which has been busy all afternoon and earned you fifty bucks. It also describes a positive, energetic quality in people: "Her dynamism inspired everyone around her to get involved and lend a hand." Dynamism comes from a Greek root, dynamis, "power, might, or strength."
Vocabulary lists containing dynamism
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Longer term, that could be a problem, because the labor market needs dynamism that comes from workers moving jobs, Richardson said.
From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026
And, as much as I hate to unwittingly side with network executives, a new iteration that featured Gellar as anything other than its shining star wouldn’t have the dynamism of the original series.
From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026
In 2025, Konczal notes, “health care continued to do the heavy lifting, while the rest of the labor market collapsed. The promised handoff from government-adjacent employment to private-sector dynamism never materialized.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026
And this invocation to keep moving reveals something about the chapel’s architecture—its dynamism.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026
Although she was already a hundred years old and on the point of going blind from cataracts, she still had her physical dynamism, her integrity of character, and her mental balance intact.
From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
