What does "vitalism" mean?
The doctrine that life involves some immaterial "vital force", and cannot be explained scientifically.
Vitalism
noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The doctrine that life involves some immaterial "vital force", and cannot be explained scientifically.
- Grammar: vitalism is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: historic vitalism, life force doctrine, life principle theory, nonreductionist life theory.
- Useful contrasts: machinism, materialism, mechanism.
- Usage evidence: Theories and philosophies of vitalism are concerned with the distinction between life and non-life in some form. Given this emphasis, vitalism always has political stakes: where the boundary between life and non-life is drawn is, as theorists of biopolitics have shown, a supremely political matter […] Historically, vitalism has been associated with conservatism and fascism in ways that are sometimes genealogically defensible, sometimes only with difficulty or not at all.
How to use "vitalism"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "vitalism" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "vitalism" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "vitalism" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "historic vitalism" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The doctrine that life involves some immaterial "vital force", and cannot be explained scientifically. countable, uncountable
"Theories and philosophies of vitalism are concerned with the distinction between life and non-life in some form. Given this emphasis, vitalism always has political stakes: where the boundary between life and non-life is drawn is, as theorists of biopolitics have shown, a supremely political matter […] Historically, vitalism has been associated with conservatism and fascism in ways that are sometimes genealogically defensible, sometimes only with difficulty or not at all."
- 2 (philosophy) a doctrine that life is a vital principle distinct from physics and chemistry wordnet
Synonyms
All synonyms historic vitalismlife force doctrinelife principle theorynonreductionist life theoryvital force theory
Example
"Theories and philosophies of vitalism are concerned with the distinction between life and non-life in some form. Given this emphasis, vitalism always has political stakes: where the boundary between life and non-life is drawn is, as theorists of biopolitics have shown, a supremely political matter […] Historically, vitalism has been associated with conservatism and fascism in ways that are sometimes genealogically defensible, sometimes only with difficulty or not at all."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "vitalism"?
Common synonyms include: historic vitalism, life force doctrine, life principle theory, nonreductionist life theory, vital force theory.
How do you use "vitalism" in a sentence?
Theories and philosophies of vitalism are concerned with the distinction between life and non-life in some form. Given this emphasis, vitalism always has political stakes: where the boundary between life and non-life is drawn is, as theorists of biopolitics have shown, a supremely political matter […] Historically, vitalism has been associated with conservatism and fascism in ways that are sometimes genealogically defensible, sometimes only with difficulty or not at all.
Etymology
From vital + -ism.