vitalist
|vi-tal-ist|
/ˈvaɪtəlɪst/
advocate of a life force
Etymology
'vitalist' originates from English, specifically formed from 'vital' + the agent suffix '-ist', where 'vital' derives from Latin 'vitalis' (from 'vita') meaning 'of life'.
'vital' comes from Latin 'vitalis' (from 'vita' meaning 'life'); the noun 'vitalist' was formed in English in the 19th century in connection with the philosophical doctrine 'vitalism'.
Initially it referred specifically to a proponent of the doctrine 'vitalism'; it has retained that meaning and is still used to denote someone who believes in or advocates a special life force distinct from physical explanations.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who believes in or advocates vitalism, the doctrine that living organisms are governed by a special vital force that is distinct from physical or chemical forces.
He was a committed vitalist who argued that life could not be reduced to chemistry and physics alone.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/27 23:40