Langimage
English

holism

|ho/lism|

C1

🇺🇸

/ˈhoʊlɪzəm/

🇬🇧

/ˈhəʊlɪzəm/

interconnected whole

Etymology
Etymology Information

'holism' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'holos,' where 'holos' meant 'whole.'

Historical Evolution

'holos' transformed into the English word 'holism' in the early 20th century, coined by Jan Smuts.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'whole,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'the theory that parts of a whole are interconnected.'

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

the theory that parts of a whole are in intimate interconnection, such that they cannot exist independently of the whole, or cannot be understood without reference to the whole, which is thus regarded as greater than the sum of its parts.

Holism suggests that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 20:13