Main Entry:

ni·hil·ism

Pronunciation:

\ˈnī-(h)ə-ˌli-zəm, ˈnē-\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

German Nihilismus, from Latin nihil nothing — more at nil

Date:

circa 1817

1 a: a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless b: a doctrine that denies any objective ground of truth and especially of moral truths2 a: a doctrine or belief that conditions in the social organization are so bad as to make destruction desirable for its own sake independent of any constructive program or possibility bcapitalized : the program of a 19th century Russian party advocating revolutionary reform and using terrorism and assassination

— ni·hil·ist \-list\ noun or adjective

— ni·hil·is·tic \ˌnī-(h)ə-ˈlis-tik, ˌnē-\ adjective