reification

noun

re·​ifi·​ca·​tion ˌrā-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce reification (audio)
ˌrē-
: the process or result of reifying

Examples of reification in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Since Serial first ignited the true-crime podcast boom in 2014, the genre’s heaviest hitters—podcasts like My Favorite Murder and Crime Junkie—have come under fire for their reification of policing and the prison-industrial complex, among other issues. Keely Weiss, Harper's BAZAAR, 5 Aug. 2020 His movie is basically a reification of 1950s-style American toughness: us versus them, fighting against invaders. Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 2 Aug. 2022 Dangerous demagogues use reification to position opposition as less than human, thereby denying their standing to criticize or object. Jennifer Mercieca, The Conversation, 19 June 2020 Does the reification of objectivity and detachment in the discipline serve to reinforce status hierarchies more than produce sound science? WSJ, 12 Sep. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reification.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reification was in 1846

Dictionary Entries Near reification

Cite this Entry

“Reification.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reification. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.

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