Definition of ANIMISM

animism

Meanings

Plural: animisms

Noun

  • the doctrine that all natural objects and the universe itself have souls
    • "animism is common among primitive peoples"
  • A belief that spirits inhabit some or all classes of natural objects or phenomena.
  • A belief that an immaterial force animates the universe.
  • A doctrine that animal life is produced by an immaterial spirit.

Origin / Etymology

From anima + -ism, from Latin anima (“life", "breath", "soul”). Dated sense from German Animismus, coined c. 1720 by physicist/chemist Georg Ernst Stahl (1660-1734) See anima mundi.

Scrabble Score: 11

animism is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
animism is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
animism is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 14

animism is a valid Words With Friends word