Whorfian hypothesis

noun

Whorf·​ian hypothesis ˈ(h)wȯr-fē-ən- How to pronounce Whorfian hypothesis (audio)
: a theory in linguistics: one's language determines one's conception of the world

Word History

Etymology

Benjamin Lee Whorf †1941 American anthropologist

First Known Use

1954, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Whorfian hypothesis was in 1954

Dictionary Entries Near Whorfian hypothesis

whoreson

Whorfian hypothesis

whorish

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Cite this Entry

“Whorfian hypothesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Whorfian%20hypothesis. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

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