relativism

American  

[rel-uh-tuh-viz-uhm] / ˈrɛl ə təˌvɪz əm /

noun

Philosophy.

1. any theory holding that criteria of judgment are relative, varying with individuals and their environments.

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relativism British  

/ ˈrɛlətɪˌvɪzəm /

noun

1. any theory holding that truth or moral or aesthetic value, etc, is not universal or absolute but may differ between individuals or cultures See also historicism

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relativism Cultural  

1. The doctrine that no ideas or beliefs are universally true but that all are, instead, “relative” — that is, their validity depends on the circumstances in which they are applied.

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Other Word Forms

• relativist noun

Etymology

Origin of relativism

First recorded in 1860–65; relative + -ism