Absolutism
/ˈæb.səˌluˌtɪz.m̩/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Doctrine of preordination; doctrine of absolute decrees; doctrine that God acts in an absolute manner. countable, uncountable
- 2 the doctrine of an absolute being, often related to idealism in philosophy. wordnet
- 3 The principles or practice of absolute or arbitrary government; Synonym of despotism. countable, uncountable
"The element of absolutism and prelacy was more controlling in the counsels of the rival corporation."
- 4 an ideological belief in the complete and unrestricted power of government. wordnet
- 5 Belief in a metaphysical absolute; belief in Absolute. countable, uncountable
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- 6 a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.) wordnet
- 7 Positiveness; the state of being absolute. countable, uncountable
- 8 dominance through threat of punishment and violence wordnet
- 9 The characteristic of being absolute in nature or scope; absoluteness. countable, rare, uncountable
"It was the absolutism of his ambition to be a perfect writer (and perhaps also the perfect son) that imperiled him."
Example
More examples"We cannot mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name-calling as reasoned debate."
Etymology
First attested in 1753 (in the theological sense); attested in 1830 in the political sense. From absolute + -ism, based after French absolutisme.