pluralism

noun

plu·​ral·​ism ˈplu̇r-ə-ˌli-zəm How to pronounce pluralism (audio)
1
: the holding of two or more offices or positions (such as benefices) at the same time
2
: the quality or state of being plural
3
a
: a theory that there are more than one or more than two kinds of ultimate reality
b
: a theory that reality is composed of a plurality of entities
4
a
: a state of society in which members of diverse ethnic, racial, religious, or social groups maintain and develop their traditional culture or special interest within the confines of a common civilization
b
: a concept, doctrine, or policy advocating this state
pluralist adjective or noun
pluralistic adjective
pluralistically adverb

Examples of pluralism in a Sentence

He spoke of the benefits of cultural pluralism. She's a champion of pluralism.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That says something about us: our pluralism and inclusiveness. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 28 Feb. 2025 Then the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) emerged in the 2010s in Turkey as a powerful political force, successfully integrating Kurdish demands into a broader platform of democracy, pluralism, and minority rights. Sefa Secen & Serhun Al / Made By History, TIME, 7 Feb. 2025 The earn-and-learn apprenticeship degree breaks through this bottleneck via opportunity pluralism, which holds that people should be encouraged to pursue varied pathways to a career, including those that offer work experience. Bruno V. Manno, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025 His vivid account emphasizes New York’s roots in pluralism and a capitalist ethos while also tracing the roles of slavery and the dispossession of Native Americans in the city’s founding. Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pluralism

Word History

First Known Use

1772, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pluralism was in 1772

Cite this Entry

“Pluralism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pluralism. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on pluralism

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