anti-pluralism
|an-ti-plu-ra-lism|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.tiˈplʊr.ə.lɪ.zəm/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.tiˈplʊə.rə.lɪ.zəm/
opposition to plurality/diversity
Etymology
'anti-pluralism' originates from a modern English compound formed by the prefix 'anti-' and the noun 'pluralism'. 'anti-' comes from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against', and 'pluralism' is built from 'plural' (Latin 'pluralis') meaning 'more than one'.
'anti-' (Greek) was adopted into Latin and then into English as a productive prefix meaning 'against'. 'pluralism' entered English via Latin/French (French 'pluralisme', Latin 'pluralis' from 'plus' meaning 'more') and was combined in modern usage with 'anti-' to form 'anti-pluralism'.
Originally the parts meant 'against' + 'more than one'; over time the compound came to specifically denote opposition to political, social, or cultural plurality rather than a literal opposition to 'more than one'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
opposition to political or social pluralism — i.e., resistance to the coexistence of multiple political parties, groups, or viewpoints.
The party's platform embraced anti-pluralism, proposing restrictions on rival parties and dissenting media.
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Noun 2
a stance or ideology that favors cultural, ethnic, or social uniformity over diversity (often expressed as hostility to multiculturalism or minority rights).
Public intellectuals criticized the government's drift toward anti-pluralism and its attacks on minority rights.
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Noun 3
a policy or practice of preventing or limiting the formation and influence of multiple independent organizations, groups, or voices (e.g., restricting civil society or media plurality).
Observers warned that new laws curbing NGOs could institutionalize anti-pluralism in the country's civic sphere.
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Last updated: 2025/11/14 23:17