spiritualism

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

Examples of spiritualism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On the other hand, a lot of hippies turned inward, toward spiritualism and self-improvement. — Maggie McGowan, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026

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

Word History

First Known Use

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