determinism

noun

de·​ter·​min·​ism di-ˈtər-mə-ˌni-zəm 

dē-

1

philosophy

a

: a theory or doctrine that acts of the will (see will entry 2 sense 4a), occurrences in nature, or social or psychological phenomena are causally determined by preceding events or natural laws

b

: a belief in predestination

2

: the quality or state of being determined

determinist

di-ˈtər-mə-nəst 

dē-

noun or adjective

deterministic

di-ˌtər-mə-ˈni-stik 

dē-

adjective

deterministically

di-ˌtər-mə-ˈni-sti-k(ə-)lē 

dē-

adverb

Examples of determinism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

During the race’s opening laps, NBC fixed its camera on Brady and discussed the nominative determinism at play. —Adam Kilgore, Washington Post, 28 June 2024

Cloning is the ultimate expression of genetic determinism—chromosomes as character. —Carolyn Wells, Longreads, 26 June 2024

Thinking The fate of determinism Science nails the coffin of determinism shut. —Big Think, 24 June 2024

Directed by Oxide Pang and adapted for the screen by Pang and Patrick Neate, The Tesseract, manages to eke out some of Garland’s early ideas about determinism, fate, and human psychology, but the filmmakers’ efforts didn’t convince critics. —Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see determine

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing determinism

• self-determinism

Medical Definition

determinism

noun

de·​ter·​min·​ism di-ˈtər-mə-ˌniz-əm 

1

: a theory or doctrine that acts of the will, occurrences in nature, or social or psychological phenomena are causally determined by preceding events or natural laws

explained behavior by the combination of an environmental and a genetic determinism

2

: the quality or state of being determined

deterministic

-ˌtər-mə-ˈnis-tik 

adjective

also determinist

-ˈtərm-(ə-)nəst 

deterministically

-ˌtər-mə-ˈnis-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb