personalism

[ pur-suh-nl-iz-uhm ]

noun

1. Also called personal idealism. a modern philosophical movement locating ultimate value and reality in persons, human or divine.
2. Psychology. an approach stressing individual personality as the central concern of psychology.

personalism

/ ˈpɜːsənəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. a philosophical movement that stresses the value of persons
2. an idiosyncratic mode of behaviour or expression

Derived Forms

• ˌpersonalˈistic, adjective
• ˈpersonalist, nounadjective

Other Words From

• person·al·ist noun
• person·al·istic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of personalism¹

First recorded in 1840–50; personal + -ism

Example Sentences

Liberals dislike personalism, preferring to place policies before personalities.

From Salon

But ruling party personalism helps elected leaders undercut these protective guardrails.

From Salon

One of the best moments of analysis comes in the discussion of Day and “personalism,” a philosophy that “insisted that each of us, driven by love, had the power to change the world simply by changing ourselves.”

From Washington Post

Personalism can succeed when the movement fails.

From Washington Post

As pacifists, personalism gives a pathway for heroism even when the struggle — the struggle to stop the war — is lost.

From Washington Post