phenomenalism

1 of 2

noun

phe·​nom·​e·​nal·​ism fi-ˈnä-mə-nə-ˌli-zəm 

1

: a theory that limits knowledge to phenomena only

2

: a theory that all knowledge is of phenomena and that what is construed to be perception of material objects is simply perception of sense-data

phenomenalist

fi-ˈnä-mə-nə-list 

noun or adjective

phenomenalistic

fi-ˌnä-mə-nə-ˈli-stik 

adjective

phenomenalistically

fi-ˌnä-mə-nə-ˈli-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

phenomenalistic

2 of 2

adjective

phe·​nom·​e·​nal·​is·​tic

-tēk

: of or relating to phenomena or phenomenalism

a phenomenalistic system … is one that takes some perceptible physical individuals as its basic units

—Nelson Goodman

phenomenalistically

-tə̇k(ə)lē 

-tēk-, 

-li

adverb

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for phenomenalism

• absolutism
• adventurism
• aestheticism
• africanism
• agnosticism
• alcoholism
• anachronism
• anglicanism
• antagonism
• arianism
• asceticism
• astigmatism