animism

1 of 2

noun (1)

an·​i·​mism ˈa-nə-ˌmi-zəm 

1

: a doctrine that the vital principle of organic development is immaterial spirit

2

: attribution of conscious life to objects in and phenomena of nature or to inanimate objects

3

: belief in the existence of spirits separable from bodies

animist

ˈa-nə-mist 

noun

animistic

ˌa-nə-ˈmi-stik 

adjective

animist

2 of 2

noun (2)

an·​i·​mist ˈa-nə-mist 

plural -s

often attributive

: one who accepts the doctrine of animism

animistic

¦a-nə-¦mi-stik 

adjective

Examples of animism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Indeed, animism—the openness to subjectivity in any form, in a living world that is far more than human—is still the default view and practice of many indigenous cultures. — Colin Cepuran, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026

Such animism, borne of inclusion and founded in a kind of gentle unity with the natural world, runs counter to the distrust and alienation that otherwise surrounds Kellou and Aya. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2026

Part of the pleasure here is the film’s delicate balance between universal notions of heroism, sacrifice, and understanding with Japanese animism, history, and spirituality. — John Ortved, Vogue, 28 Nov. 2025

Similar jijingu have been found across the Baekje kingdom’s capital, and offer a window into religious observances at the time—a mix of indigenous Korean animism combined with outside Buddhist and Chinese influences. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

German Animismus, from Latin anima soul

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1819, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for animism

• autism
• fascism
• racism
• sikhism
• sophism
• statism
• sufism
• thomism
• tourism
• tropism
• abolitionism
• aldosteronism

Medical Definition

animism

noun

an·​i·​mism ˈan-ə-ˌmiz-əm 

1

: a doctrine that the vital principle of organic development is immaterial spirit

2

: attribution of conscious life to nature or natural objects

animist

-məst 

noun

animistic

ˌan-ə-ˈmis-tik 

adjective