nominalism

noun

nom·i·nal·ism ˈnä-mə-nə-ˌli-zəm

ˈnäm-nə-ˌli-zəm

: a theory that there are no universal essences in reality and that the mind can frame no single concept or image corresponding to any universal or general term

: the theory that only individuals and no abstract entities (such as essences, classes, or propositions) exist compare essentialism, realism

nominalist

ˈnä-mə-nə-list

ˈnäm-nə-list

noun

nominalist adjective

or nominalistic

ˌnä-mə-nə-ˈli-stik

ˌnäm-nə-ˈli-

Examples of nominalism in a Sentence

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In philosophy, this tension between intrinsic and imposed categories takes the form of a debate between nominalism and realism. —