relativism

noun

rel·​a·​tiv·​ism ˈre-lə-ti-ˌvi-zəm How to pronounce relativism (audio)
1
a
: a theory that knowledge is relative to the limited nature of the mind and the conditions of knowing
b
: a view that ethical truths depend on the individuals and groups holding them
2
relativist noun

Examples of relativism in a Sentence

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.
To attribute the corrosion of institutional trust to such bugbears as relativism or postmodernism is to ignore explanations that are both more concrete and more parsimonious. Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2025 But Freeman’s three-year project hasn’t been based on relativism. Pete Sampson, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024 After the Realpolitik relativism of the Vietnam and the Nixon eras, Carter committed himself to diplomacy, deferred to international norms and elevated human rights into a priority of American foreign policy. Jane Harman, TIME, 30 Dec. 2024 Furthermore, the proliferation of social media has created a culture of relativism, where truth is subjective and facts are optional. Steven Delco, Hartford Courant, 10 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for relativism

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of relativism was in 1865

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Cite this Entry

“Relativism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relativism. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.

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