antispiritualism
|an-ti-spir-it-u-al-ism|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.tiˈspɪr.ɪ.tʃu.əl.ɪ.zəm/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.tiˈspɪr.ɪ.tʃʊə.lɪ.zəm/
against spiritualism / opposition to spiritual beliefs
Etymology
'antispiritualism' originates from Modern English, formed by the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') + 'spiritualism' (from 'spirit' + the suffix '-ism').
'spiritualism' derives from the noun 'spirit' (Latin 'spiritus' meaning 'breath' or 'spirit') plus the suffix '-ism'; the compound 'spiritualism' arose in the 19th century to name the movement, and 'antispiritualism' was formed later by adding the prefix 'anti-'.
Initially the term primarily referred to opposition to the specific 19th-century movement 'Spiritualism', but over time it has also been used to denote a more general opposition to spirituality or spiritual explanations.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
opposition to or rejection of the 19th-century movement called 'Spiritualism' (the belief in communication with the spirits of the dead).
His pamphlets expressed antispiritualism in response to the séances popular in his town.
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Noun 2
a broader stance opposing spirituality or spiritual explanations generally, often favoring materialism, secularism, or skepticism.
The philosopher's antispiritualism led him to promote scientific and material explanations for human experience.
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Last updated: 2025/09/10 14:34