tabula rasa

ta·bu·la ra·sa | \ ˌta-byə-lə-ˈrä-zə

How to pronounce tabula rasa (audio)

, -sə \

plural tabulae rasae\ ˌta-byə-ˌlī-ˈrä-ˌzī

How to pronounce tabulae rasae (audio)

, -ˌsī \

Definition of tabula rasa

1 : the mind in its hypothetical primary blank or empty state before receiving outside impressions

2 : something existing in its original pristine state

Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about tabula rasa

Keep scrolling for more

Did You Know?

Philosophers have been arguing that babies are born with minds that are essentially blank slates since the days of Aristotle. (Later, some psychologists took up the case as well.) English speakers have called that initial state of mental blankness tabula rasa (a term taken from a Latin phrase that translates as "smooth or erased tablet") since the 16th century, but it wasn't until British philosopher John Locke championed the concept in his Essay Concerning Human Understanding in 1690 that the term gained widespread popularity in our language. In later years, a figurative sense of the term emerged, referring to something that exists in its original state and that has yet to be altered by outside forces.

Examples of tabula rasa in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web For many Americans, New Year’s Day means a new set of resolutions, a slight headache, and a refreshing tabula rasa. — Aarian Marshall, Wired, "Want a Tax Credit for Buying an Electric Vehicle? Move Fast," 18 Dec. 2019 The young men and women demonstrators, when speaking to both local and foreign journalists, sometimes speak of their desire for a tabula rasa. — Edwidge Danticat, The New Yorker, "Demonstrators in Haiti Are Fighting for an Uncertain Future," 10 Oct. 2019 Voluminous white shirt-dresses served as a tabula rasa, a blank canvas, which Piccioli then adorned with delicate gold jewelry, such as a round necklace with a figurative bird pendant. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Valentino channels powerful simplicity in Paris show," 29 Sep. 2019 Keeping the tabula rasa in mind for the reader’s progress through the book. — Ryan Chapman, Longreads, "‘Nobody in This Book Is Going to Catch a Break’: Téa Obreht on “Inland”," 28 Aug. 2019 With uproarious derisiveness yet also empathetic warmth, Jarmusch borrows a small but solid batch of horror-movie tropes to evoke an existential tabula rasa with (almost) no way out. — Paige Williams, The New Yorker, "“The Dead Don’t Die,” Reviewed: Jim Jarmusch’s Fiercely Political Zombie Comedy," 14 June 2019 Notre Dame’s site itself was no immaculate tabula rasa. — Klara Glowczewska, Town & Country, "Notre Dame Cathedral Will Never Be the Same—and That's Ok," 19 Apr. 2019 Call it a digital tabula rasa where the vibes are happy and hopeful. — Liana Satenstein, Vogue, "The 13 Best Fashion Instagrams of the Week: Yara Shahidi Goes Raver, Chanel Models Have Fun, and More," 5 Jan. 2019 Los Angeles interior designer Amber Lewis faced such a tabula rasa in a client’s vacation getaway, a 1960s ranch house in Ojai, Calif. — Wsj Real Estate, WSJ, "Bronfman Scion Sells Bel-Air Manse for $85 Million," 8 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tabula rasa.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about tabula rasa

Listen to Our Podcast about tabula rasa

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Dictionary Entries near tabula rasa

tabular difference

Statistics for tabula rasa

Last Updated

27 Dec 2019

Cite this Entry

“Tabula rasa.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tabula%20rasa. Accessed 29 January 2020.

WORD OF THE DAY

allege

to assert without proof or before proving

Test Your Vocabulary

January 2020 Words of the Day Quiz

Which is a synonym of bonhomie?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.