spiritualism

1 of 2

noun

spir·​i·​tu·​al·​ism ˈspir-i-chə-wə-ˌli-zəm 

-i-chə-ˌli-, 

-ich-wə-ˌli-

1

: the view that spirit is a prime element of reality

2

a

: a belief that spirits of the dead communicate with the living usually through a medium

b

Spiritualism : a movement comprising religious organizations emphasizing spiritualism

spiritualist

ˈspir-i-chə-wə-list 

-i-chə-list, 

-ich-wə-list

noun

often Spiritualist

spiritualistic

ˌspir-i-chə-wə-ˈli-stik 

-i-chə-ˈli-, 

-ich-wə-ˈli-

adjective

spiritualistic

2 of 2

adjective

spir·​i·​tu·​al·​is·​tic ¦spirə̇ch(ə)wə¦listik 

-chə¦l-, 

-tēk sometimes -rēch-

variants or spiritualist

ˈ⸗⸗⸗⸗lə̇st, 

ˈ⸗⸗⸗₋lə̇st

: of, relating to, or connected with spiritualism

spiritualistically

-¦listə̇k(ə)lē, 

-tēk-, 

-)li

adverb

Examples of spiritualism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And that scene is playing on a very tried and true form of spiritualism. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 26 May 2026

Mary Todd Lincoln, amid her grief, grabbed the crutch of Spiritualism. —Thomas Mallon, New Yorker, 18 May 2026

Spiritualism was the popularization of clairvoyance, telepathy and mediums who claimed to communicate with the dead. —Rachel Treisman, NPR, 23 Apr. 2026

Our late colleague Asher Peres, someone with little respect for spiritualism, once met someone of the opposite persuasion. —Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 31 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1749, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

spiritualism

noun

spir·​i·​tu·​al·​ism ˈspir-ich-(ə-)wə-ˌliz-əm 

-ich-ə-ˌliz-

: a belief that the spirits of the dead communicate with the living