fundamentalism

noun

fun·​da·​men·​tal·​ism ˌfən-də-ˈmen-tə-ˌli-zəm How to pronounce fundamentalism (audio)
1
a
often capitalized : a movement in 20th century Protestantism emphasizing the literally interpreted Bible as fundamental to Christian life and teaching
b
: the beliefs of this movement
c
: adherence to such beliefs
a minister noted for his strict fundamentalism
2
: a movement or attitude stressing strict and literal adherence to a set of basic principles
Islamic fundamentalism
political fundamentalism
fundamentalist noun
fundamentalist adjective
or fundamentalistic

Examples of fundamentalism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Within the confines of this potential foursome, there are opportunities for psychological rigor, as well as chances to deal with issues including religious fundamentalism, male infertility and the gendering of romantic obsession. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Jan. 2025 The show also made a number of storytelling and production choices that have helped DS9 seem more relevant in recent years than ever before, including tackling issues about race, religious fundamentalism, and war on a regular basis. Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 16 Jan. 2025 On the one side stood religious fundamentalism with its insistence on a literal reading of scripture and submission to institutional authority; on the other stood scientific naturalism with its insistence that only empirical methods were valid routes to knowledge. Ben Woollard, JSTOR Daily, 29 Jan. 2025 In America, generally speaking, Christian fundamentalism steadily gained influence, peaking in the latter part of the twentieth century, when televangelists like Billy Graham, Oral Roberts, Jimmy Swaggart, and Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker spread the good word in living rooms everywhere. Arthur Krystal, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for fundamentalism 

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of fundamentalism was in 1912

Dictionary Entries Near fundamentalism

Cite this Entry

“Fundamentalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fundamentalism. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

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