denialism
|de-ni-al-ism|
/dɪˈnaɪəlɪzəm/
systematic refusal to accept facts
Etymology
'denialism' originates from English, specifically from the noun 'denial' combined with the suffix '-ism'; 'deny' ultimately derives from Latin 'denegare', where 'de-' meant 'away' and 'negare' meant 'to say no' or 'refuse'.
'Denegare' (Latin) developed into forms in Old French and Middle English (e.g. Middle English 'denyen' / 'deny'), which produced the noun 'denial' in Modern English; 'denialism' was formed later by adding the productive suffix '-ism' to denote an ideology or practice of denial.
Originally related simply to the action of refusing or saying 'no', the word evolved into a term for a broader, organized stance — now used to describe systematic refusal to accept established facts or evidence.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the practice or ideology of rejecting well-established facts or evidence, often for ideological, political, or emotional reasons (e.g., climate-change denialism, Holocaust denialism).
Denialism has hindered effective public policy on climate change.
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Noun 2
a systematic, often organized movement or stance that promotes the denial of specific historical or scientific facts.
Holocaust denialism is widely condemned by historians and scholars.
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Last updated: 2025/11/21 02:30