determinism

1 of 2

noun

de·​ter·​min·​ism di-ˈtər-mə-ˌni-zəm 

dē-

1

philosophy

a

: a theory or doctrine that acts of the will (see will entry 2 sense 4a), occurrences in nature, or social or psychological phenomena are causally determined by preceding events or natural laws

b

: a belief in predestination

2

: the quality or state of being determined

determinist

di-ˈtər-mə-nəst 

dē-

noun or adjective

deterministic

di-ˌtər-mə-ˈni-stik 

dē-

adjective

deterministically

di-ˌtər-mə-ˈni-sti-k(ə-)lē 

dē-

adverb

see also:

indeterminism

deterministic

2 of 2

adjective

de·​ter·​mi·​nis·​tic

: relating to or implying determinism

deterministically

-tə̇k(ə)lē 

adverb

Examples of determinism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

His cultural determinism appears to leave America fated to endlessly repeat an ancient pattern of conflict. — James Traub, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026

Burbank’s environmental determinism was tangled with a settler-colonial impulse to imbue the wild landscape with Western ideals of control and organization to not only manage but also improve populations, in both plants and humans. — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 25 June 2026

Nominative determinism, in the bin. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 16 June 2026

The present is no longer the result of determinism but response, not mechanistic reaction but creative intra-action. — Jenny Odell, Longreads, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

see determine

First Known Use

Noun

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing determinism

• self-determinism

Rhymes for determinism

• activism
• albinism
• altruism
• aneurism
• animism
• aphorism
• atomism
• barbarism
• bolshevism
• botulism
• brahmanism
• calvinism

Medical Definition

determinism

noun

de·​ter·​min·​ism di-ˈtər-mə-ˌniz-əm 

1

: a theory or doctrine that acts of the will, occurrences in nature, or social or psychological phenomena are causally determined by preceding events or natural laws

explained behavior by the combination of an environmental and a genetic determinism

2

: the quality or state of being determined

deterministic

-ˌtər-mə-ˈnis-tik 

adjective

also determinist

-ˈtərm-(ə-)nəst 

deterministically

-ˌtər-mə-ˈnis-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb